The government’s commitment to making quality medicines affordable and accessible continues to gain momentum, with Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, informing the Rajya Sabha that 15,057 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) have been established across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme as of February 28, 2025.

The Jan Aushadhi Kendras are part of a nationwide initiative aimed at providing essential medicines at affordable prices, particularly benefiting lower-income groups and rural populations. According to the minister, the scheme's robust supply chain is functioning smoothly and is not hindered by systemic issues. An end-to-end IT-enabled supply chain has been put in place, with a central warehouse in Gurugram and four regional warehouses in Bengaluru, Guwahati, Chennai, and Surat, supported by 36 distributors across the country.

The government has put strong monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure the consistent availability of medicines. Stock levels of 400 fast-moving products are regularly tracked, and Jan Aushadhi Kendra owners are incentivized for maintaining a minimum stock of 200 key medicines, including the 100 top-selling and 100 fastest-moving drugs. This approach helps Kendras to meet demand more efficiently and ensures that essential medicines are readily available to the public.

In addition to strengthening the supply chain, the government has taken stringent measures to safeguard the quality of medicines sold through Jan Aushadhi Kendras. All medicines are procured exclusively from WHO-GMP-certified suppliers. Before being dispatched, each batch is tested at National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited facilities. Moreover, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India regularly audits vendor facilities to ensure compliance with quality standards.

State-wise data highlights Uttar Pradesh as having the highest number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, with 2,658 outlets, followed by Kerala with 1,528 and Karnataka with 1,425. Tamil Nadu has 1,363 Kendras, while states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra also show significant numbers with 275, 760, and 708 Kendras, respectively.

The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana has become a crucial part of India’s healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that affordable and high-quality medicines reach every corner of the country. The government’s continued efforts to strengthen the supply chain, incentivize entrepreneurship, and maintain stringent quality controls are helping transform access to medicines and promote healthcare equity nationwide.