Nodal Ministry-Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (Department of Pharmaceuticals)
Implementing Agency- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) (registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act)
To make quality-assured generic medicines and medical consumables accessible and affordable to all citizens, specifically targeting the reduction of Out-Of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) on healthcare.
Price Differential- Provides generic medicines at rates that are 50% to 80% lower than equivalent branded alternatives in the retail market.
Comprehensive Product Basket- Features 2,110 generic medicines and 315 surgicals/medical devices covering critical therapeutic areas (cardiovascular, oncology, anti-diabetic, anti-infectives, gastro-intestinal, and nutraceuticals).
Pricing Methodology-
NLEM Listed Drugs- Prices fixed at least 50% lower than the NLEM ceiling price set by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
Non-NLEM Listed Drugs- Prices fixed at least 50% lower than the average MRP of the top 3 leading branded equivalents.
Three-Tiered Quality Assurance Protocol
To dispel the myth that low-priced generic drugs are inferior in efficacy, PMBI enforces strict quality control parameters-
WHO-GMP Sourcing- Sourced exclusively from manufacturing plants certified as WHO-GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) compliant by CDSCO.
Mandatory 100% Pre-Testing- Every single batch received at PMBI central warehouses undergoes 100% anonymized sample testing before dispatch to Kendras.
NABL & GLP Accredited Testing- Samples are tested solely in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) compliant laboratories accredited by NABL.
Financial Incentives & Entrepreneurship Framework
The scheme functions on a franchisee-based micro-entrepreneurship model-
Trade Margin- Operators receive a fixed 20% trade margin on the MRP of each product (excluding taxes).
Normal Performance Incentive- Up to ₹20,000 per month (10% on monthly purchase + 10% for maintaining a mandatory stock of 200 fast-selling/essential medicines).
One-Time Special Grant (Inclusive Support)-
A ₹2 lakh one-time grant (₹1.5 lakh for store infrastructure/furniture + ₹50,000 for IT hardware/software) provided to Women entrepreneurs ,Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST), Divyangjan (Persons with Disabilities) & Ex-Servicemen ,Entrepreneurs establishing Kendras in Aspirational Districts, North-Eastern States, Himalayan regions, and Island territories.
Special Interventions & Digital Integrations
Janaushadhi Suvidha Sanitary Napkins- Affordability - Oxo-biodegradable, eco-friendly sanitary napkins provided at ₹1 per pad.Impact - Over 100 crore Suvidha pads sold across the country by early 2026, significantly improving rural menstrual hygiene management.
Jan Aushadhi Sugam Mobile App- Digital portal assisting citizens in locating nearby JAKs, comparing price differentials between generic and branded drugs, and tracking product availability in real time.
Janaushadhi Diwas- Celebrated annually on March 7 (preceded by Janaushadhi Saptah from March 1–7) to drive grassroots awareness and combat social stigma surrounding generic pharmaceuticals.
Macro Socio-Economic Impact
Fiscal Savings for Citizens- Estimated to have generated cumulative savings of over ₹45,000 crore for Indian households over the last 12 years relative to branded alternative purchases.
Reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE)-Directly mitigates distress healthcare financing (where drug purchases historically accounted for nearly 60%–70% of total outpatient care expenditure in India).
Local Employment-Generated direct self-employment opportunities for over 20,000 pharmacists and young micro-entrepreneurs.
