Page 38 - NIS English 01-15 July,2023

NOW CHEAP AND QUALITY

MEDICINE WILL BE AVAILABLE

EVEN IN RURAL AREAS

In order to provide cheap and quality medicines to the common citizens of the country near
their homes and to increase employment opportunities, the government is opening many
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras. To achieve this resolution, the decision
to open PM Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras in 2000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
(PACS) across the country by December 2023 was taken in a meeting held on June 6
between Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Chemicals and Fertilizers
Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. With this effort, cheap and quality medicines will be
available near homes in rural areas, and along with this, employment opportunities will
increase.

nder the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra
UModi, the central government is continuously
strengthening the PACS. Be it computerization,
agreement to start 300 common service centers, or
provision in the budget for the creation of a multi-
purpose PACS in every Panchayat along with the
creation of 2 lakhs new PACS in the next 5 years,
all these will help to boost business activities in
PACS thereby ensuring their prosperity. These
decisions of the Central Government will benefit the
rural population including 13 crore farmer members
associated with PACS. To strengthen this path of
Sahkarita se Samriddhi, 2000 PACS will be identified
to open Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra. hospital can hire B.Pharma and D.Pharma degree
Initially, 1000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras will be opened holders. The center should have at least 120 square
by the month of August while 1000 thousand centers feet of space to own or rent. The application fee for Jan
will be opened by December 2023. Aushadhi Kendra is Rs 5000. Women Entrepreneurs,
So far, more than 9400 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Divyang, Scheduled Castes, and Ex-Servicemen
Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across come under special categories. Aspirational districts,
the country. By the year 2014, the number of Himalayan hill regions, northeastern states, and
these centers was less than 100. Presently 1800 islands come under the special zone. Applicants of
types of medicines and 285 types of medical special categories and special zones are exempted
equipment are available at the centers. Medicines from the application fee.
are available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras at 50 to 90
percent less cost than branded medicines. Lending a helping hand
The incentive amount for Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya

Eligibility to open center Jan Aushadhi Kendra is Rs 5 lakh (15% of the
Under the eligibility criteria for opening Pradhan monthly purchase or a maximum of Rs 15,000 per
Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra, individual applicants month). A one-time additional incentive of Rs 2 lakh
must have D. Pharma or B. Pharma. For this, any is also provided as reimbursement for IT and infra
organization, NGO, charitable organization, and expenditure in specific categories and sectors.

36 New India Samachar July 1-15, 2023