Lucknow: Access to healthcare is considered truly meaningful only when every citizen receives timely, quality treatment along with necessary medicines at reasonable prices. The availability of affordable and quality generic medicines in the state has become an important foundation of health security.
To provide people with quality and affordable medicines, the Government of India is setting up Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). The ambitious scheme aims to make quality generic medicines available to every citizen at affordable rates, reduce the unnecessary financial burden that comes with falling ill, and extend accessible healthcare facilities to the last person in society. This scheme is also being expanded rapidly in Uttar Pradesh, with an effective push, through the active participation of cooperative institutions, to take it to every household.
PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras are not merely medicine outlets — they are an important public welfare initiative that offers financial relief to ordinary citizens. The generic medicines available at these centres meet prescribed quality standards, yet are priced considerably lower than many branded medicines available in the market. This has made quality treatment accessible for economically weaker and middle-class families. The centres have also helped build public trust in generic medicines, with more and more people now availing lower-priced medicines on medical advice, which is reducing the cost of treatment while also making regular medication more feasible.
Under the able leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a target has been set to establish at least five Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras in every district, in order to build a wide-reaching network of such centres across the state. To achieve this target, B-PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies) have also been brought into the campaign, so that easy access to medicines can be ensured in rural areas. The purpose of setting up Jan Aushadhi Kendras through B-PACS is not just to increase the availability of medicines, but also to connect rural cooperative institutions with new dimensions of public service — so that people living in villages can access quality, affordable medicines within their own area.
Under the PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra scheme, B-PACS in Uttar Pradesh have shown notable participation. As many as 971 B-PACS submitted applications to open Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras. After scrutiny of these applications, 573 B-PACS were granted initial approval. This process ensures that the centres operate in line with prescribed standards and the required infrastructure. The setting up of a Jan Aushadhi Kendra follows a well-structured, technical process — after initial approval, once the necessary formalities and standards are met, drug licences are issued to the concerned institutions by the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.
So far in the state, 288 drug licences have been issued against the total initial approvals granted. Following this, 203 store codes have also been issued to centres that completed the required processes, making them eligible to formally begin operating as Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Having completed all these stages, 98 B-PACS are currently operating successfully as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Through these centres, thousands of citizens are being provided quality generic medicines at accessible and affordable rates.
Availability of medicines has often been a major challenge in rural areas, with people from many villages having to travel to distant towns or cities to buy essential medicines. PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras are rapidly narrowing this gap. Centres operated through B-PACS are making quality medicines available closer to villages, saving both time and money and making it easier for rural citizens to get timely treatment. This initiative is proving to be an important step towards strongly extending healthcare services to rural areas. The cost of staying healthy during illness can strain any family’s finances, and patients suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma and other chronic conditions in particular require regular medication over long periods.
With medicines available at lower prices through PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, such families are seeing a notable reduction in their monthly health expenditure. This is enabling people to continue regular treatment without financial strain, with a positive impact visible on their health as well. The PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra scheme is not merely a plan to provide medicines — it is an important initiative towards building an accessible, affordable and inclusive healthcare system. Through the joint efforts of cooperative institutions, the Health Department and the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, the scheme continues to expand steadily across the state.
