Combined turnover of Janaushadhi Kendras nearly double to Rs146.59 cr in Q2 FY21
07 Sep 2020
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The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), the implementing agency of Pradhanmantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), clocked sales turnover of Rs146.59 crore in the first quarter of 2020-21 against Rs75.48 crore reported in the first quarter of 2019-20.
And, despite the problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic, BPPI achieved sales of Rs48.66 crore in July 2020. Total sales up to 31 July 2020 stood at Rs 191.90 crore.
The Janaushadhi Kendras remained functional during lockdown and maintained operations as part of their commitment to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential medicines. They sold about 1.5 million face masks, 8 million tablets of Hydroxychloroquine and 10 million Paracetamol tablets, which saved around Rs1,260 crore for the consuming public, says an official release of the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers.
Present basket of medicines sold by these kendras consists of 1,250 medicines and 204 surgical instruments. The target is set to enhance it up to 2,000 medicines and 300 surgical products by the end of March 2024, so that all essential medicines covering therapeutic groups, like anti-diabetics, cardiovascular drugs, anti-cancer, analgesics and antipyretics, anti allergic, gastro intestinal agents, vitamins, minerals and food supplements, tropical medicines, etc.
Janaushadhi medicines are cheaper by at least by 50 per cent and in some cases, by up to 80-90 per cent of the market price of branded medicines. These medicines are procured on an open tender basis from WHO-GMP compliant manufacturers only. They undergo two stage stringent quality check process at nationally accredited labs.
In terms of number of stores, probably the biggest retail pharma chain of the world it is providing a good source of self-employment for educated unemployed youths with sustainable and regular earnings and in this way truly doing justice to its tagline “Seva bhi, Rozgar bhi”. As per the official data this has provided direct source of sustainable employment for more than 11,600 educated unemployed youth of the country by engaging them in the scheme.
The incentive provided to the Kendra owners has been enhanced from existing Rs2.50 lakh to up to Rs5 lakh to be given at the rate of 15 per cent of monthly purchases made, subject to a ceiling of Rs15,000 per month. One-time incentives of Rs2.00 lakh is to be provided to the PMBJP Kendras opened in North-Eastern states, Himalayan areas, Island territories and backward areas mentioned as aspirational district by NITI Aayog or opened by women entrepreneur, Divyang, SC and ST in the form of furniture and fixtures.
Jan Aushadhi Scheme was launched by Department of Pharmaceuticals, in November 2008 across the country with the aim of ensuring access to quality medicines for all sections of the population, especially the poor and the deprived.
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