Lack of awareness depriving people of govt’s scheme for affordable medicines

By Manvi Mittal

April 4, 2020

New Delhi: Full benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, started by the Central Government in 2015, for providing quality medicines at affordable prices to every section of society, are yet to reach the people because of lack of awareness about it.

Even after 5 years, people don’t prefer Jan aushadhi Kendra as the notion prevails that cheap medicines are not effective.

The scheme is aimed at providing quality generic medicines at reasonable prices through outlets in every district. The scheme intends to reduce average pocket expenses of households in healthcare.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in budget 2020 stated the expansion of Jan aushadhi Kendra to all districts offering 2,000 medicines and 300 surgical by 2024. A Jan aushadhi Kendra can be opened by an NGO, charitable institutions/ hospitals, private hospitals, trusts, societies, self-help groups, etc, as per the guidelines given on the website of BPPI.

A vendor of Jan aushadhi Kendra, Punit Hooda in North-west Delhi, who sells arund Rs. 2-3 lakhs worth medicines per month, at 60% lower prices than branded medicines, believes more awareness about these Kendras is required. Another vendor of Jan aushadhi Kendra in Pitampura, Saurabh Chowdary said that if they do not have generic medicine for some ailments, they bring the branded medicine for their customer. He also said that educated people buy more from them. Sa aurabh believes, “awareness and trust on Jan aushadhi Kendra is comparatively lacknings there is a notion ”sasta hai kaam nahi karega.” (it’s cheap hence it won’t be effective).

Similarly, another vendor Monika Sharma, sits with her husband at their shop in Shalimar, said that generic medicines are really effective, and she sells around Rs. 60,000 worth medicines per month. She says, “There is need for more awareness about these Jan aushadhi Kendra which can only be done with the help of doctors.”

Dr. Sudep Chaturvedi, who used to work in NTPC hospita,l said that since it was a government hospital they were supposed to open a Jan aushadhi Kendra in the hospital under government policy, to make sure the generic medicines provided were trust worthy too as quality of generic medicines is properly checked by registered laboratories.

He believes, “People will buy these medicines and will trust generic medicines when the doctors will prescribe it. These Kendras will be huge success if practitioners recommend the medicines.” According to Dr. Chaturvedi, the awareness in health sector is practitioner driven.

On the other hand, Dr. Supreet Batra who is a Pulmonologist says, “I personally do not trust the quality of these generic medicines, that is why I suggest standard medicines to my patients as I have no idea about where these generic medicines are procured, manufactured. I don’t receive any samples or anything, so there is no assurance for me.”

Neeru Kumari, staff nurse of ESI Hospital says that, “ESI Hospital provides medicines, but otherwise if any patient asks me, I would definitely recommend those from Janaushadhi kendras, as they are subsidised and quality is trust-worthy.” She also wanted the Jan aushadi Kendra to remain open 24×7 for emergencies.. Another nurse, of Ambedkar hospital, on the condition of anonymity said that government should create awareness related to these Kendras as there are a lot of people who still don’t know about them .

However, a few customers expressed dissatisfaction with these subsidised medicines. Mr. Parmod Thathi said he used to frequently buy medicines from his nearby Jan aushadhi Kendra, but wasn’t satisfied, hence started buying branded medicine. ”I would not suggest anyone to buy medicine from these Kendra”. But another customer said that he buys his sugar, BP, cold and cough medicines form Jan aushadi Kendra as prescribed by doctor. Many experts also believe that PMBJP needs more awareness among the people.
—India News Stream