PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) | PMBJP Scheme

PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs)

PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: Governance, Administration and Challenges- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) is inviting fresh applications for opening of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs).

About: PMBJKs are the centers are set up under PMBJP scheme. From PMBJKs, quality generic medicines are made available to all.
Who can set up PMBJKs?
- PMBJKs can be set up by doctors, pharmacists, entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups, NGOs, Charitable Societies, etc. at any suitable place or outside the hospital premises.
Implementing Agency: Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra (PMBJKs) are set up under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) by Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI).
Application Process: The PMBJKs applications have been invited through an online process. Interested applicants can apply on PMBI’s website “janaushadhi.gov.in.
PMBJKs Targets: With a vision to provide quality medicines at an affordable rate for the common man especially the poor, Govt. has set a target to increase the number of PMBJKs to 10000 by March 2024.
- Till 31.03.2022, the number of stores has increased to 8610.
- Under the PMBJP, all 739 districts of the country have been covered. New applications have been invited to cover 3579 blocks of these 406 districts.
Incentives for Vulnerable Section of Population: The PMBJP scheme provides for incentive/special incentives for various categories including women, SC/ST, Hill districts, Island districts and North-Eastern States.
- This will ensure easy reach of affordable medicine to the people in every nook and corner of the country.

About: Under the PMBJP scheme, dedicated outlets known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra (PMBJKs) are opened to provide generic medicines at cheaper rates to the citizens of the country.
Mandates: Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra (PMBJKs) aims at making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all.
Parent Ministry: Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India.
Implementation Agency: The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals is entrusted with coordinating, procuring, supplying and marketing generic medicines through PMBJK.
Significance: PMBJP will create demand for generic medicines by improving access to better healthcare through low treatment cost and easy availability wherever needed in all therapeutic categories.
- PMBJP will also create awareness about generic medicines through education and publicity.
- PMBJP will extend the coverage of quality generic medicines, leading to reduced out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines, reducing the burden of healthcare on the poor.