SRINAGAR: Secretary Health and Medical Education (H&ME), Bhupinder Kumar, today assessed the functioning of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJAK) and Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacies operating in various secondary and tertiary care health institutions across the Union Territory.
Director Health Services, Jammu, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Principals of all Government Medical Colleges, State Drugs Controller, J&K ( Nodal Officer, PMBJAK & AMRIT), senior officers of Health and Medical Education, Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents, Project Coordinator, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)/BPPI besides representatives of HLL Limited, India attended the meeting.
State Drugs Controller, J&K, presented a detailed presentation highlighting the overall scenario of these stores and the current challenges surrounding the initiative.
It was informed in the meeting that Jan Aushadhi Kendra’s operating under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and are targeted to provide safe, efficacious, and quality medicines at an affordable price. Besides, 215 Jan Aushadhi Kendra’s including 150 government Kendras and 65 private entrepreneurs are operating across the UT at present. These establishments are maintaining an inventory of nearly 700 molecules and end users are getting a benefit to the extent of 50-90 percent as compared to similar molecules of private companies operating in the Private Sector. Since, April, 2022 to 30th September, 2022 medicines worth Rs 17.98 crore have been dispensed in these stores which inter-alia indicates that end users have benefitted to the tune of Rs. 107.88 crores.
As far as AMRIT pharmacies are concerned their basket is comprised of more than 6000 drugs, implants, surgical disposables, and other consumables which are being offered to end users at an average discount of 60 percent of the Maximum Retail Price. These stores are operating under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. As of September 15th, 2022, about 8, 45,817 lakh patients have benefitted from AMRIT pharmacies. The value of drugs dispensed at MRP is Rs.19560.37 lakh and the patients have been benefitted with a savings of Rs 10269.44 lakh. These stores are offering uninterrupted services 24×7.
Secretary impressed upon all the stakeholders to promote the initiatives of the Government of India. He highlighted the concept of PMBJAK/AMRIT saying that these stores have been introduced to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on account of the purchase of medicines considerably. He said that all the stakeholders need to work in tandem to ensure the success of these innovative schemes in the larger interest of patient care. He added that healthcare practitioners should generate prescriptions in generic names only so that the common masses are benefitted.
Bhupinder emphasized upon all the functionaries to evolve a scientific approach for enhancing the usage of medicines offered by Jan Aushadhi stores and Amrit Pharmacies within their respective institutions. He stressed upon the participants to hold a periodic review of these schemes and take appropriate measures (viz Prescriptions Audits) to ensure that the objectives enshrined therein are accomplished to the entire satisfaction of stakeholders particularly end users who are struggling to negotiate the ever-increasing expenditure incurred towards treatment.
Secretary further impressed upon the concerned to ensure that all categories of drugs are made available at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadi Kendras located within Public Health Institutions so as to ensure that no prescription gets dishonored in these pharmacies.
He stressed that in order to promote these initiatives, regular awareness camps are needed to be organized so that acceptance of generic medicines is promoted and the public perception surrounding the same is corrected entirely. He further emphasized on the cheaper drugs offered by PMBJAKs are not quality compromised instead the margins and promotion which otherwise consume a significant part of the pricing structure of drug molecules go to the benefit of consumers through this direct marketing business module.
