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The Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association has recently lodged a complaint with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), alleging widespread operational violations by Jan Aushadi Kendras (JAKs) across the state. The association alleges that JAKs are making local purchases of patented and generic drugs from outside the authorized supply chain which is not only illegal but is also severely impacting the livelihoods of traditional pharmacy owners. According to PMBI norms, JAKs are strictly prohibited from purchasing medicines from any local patented or generic wholesalers or stockists. All the inventory must be sourced through its four national warehouses, located in Chennai, Gurugram, Guwahati, and Surat, or through designated authorized distributors. Any deviation from this protocol is considered a violation of the PMBJP guidelines according to which the JAKs are only permitted to sell products exclusively manufactured for the PMBJP, which must carry the official logo and specific maximum retail prices. Adding to the controversy, the association has highlighted a significant breach of licensing regulations, claiming that some individuals are operating between ten and twenty different licenses. This reportedly violates the ‘one person, one license’ rule, suggesting a monopolization of these subsidized outlets. TNCDA is not the only association which has raised this issue. Some time back, the Karnataka Pharma Retailers & Distributors Organization (KPRDO) had also expressed concern over the JAKs in the state selling other branded generic medicines in blatant violation of clause 2.4 of the PMBI agreement. In its communication to the Union government, KPRDO had stated that despite being dedicated outlets for selling only Janaushadhi medicines, most of the JAKs are selling other branded generics medicines. There were allegations that when these Kendras sell approved PMBI drugs they issue sales bills but when they sell other cheaper branded generic medicines, they avoid giving sales bills which is a major concern, because if medicines become substandard or not of standard quality (NSQ), patients will not have proof of purchase.
It is a fact that the concept of Janaushadhi Kendras is to provide quality medicines from the PMBI basket at affordable prices to the needy people and also to create jobs for registered pharmacists. It was for this purpose, the Jan Aushadhi project was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals way back in 2008. Prices of medicines sold through these stores are cheaper at least by 50 per cent and in some cases cheaper by 80-90 per cent. Unfortunately, the scheme never really took-off in the initial years and as a result the project dragged on for several years, and the target of opening at least 100 stores every year was never achieved as the government could open only a couple of hundred stores in the first 7 years. The scheme got a new lease of life when the new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only saw it as a vehicle to provide affordable generic medicines but also an employment avenue for thousands of small entrepreneurs. The scheme was then revamped and rechristened as PMBJP in 2016. Since then, the project has been gaining momentum and the number of stores is steadily increasing. No doubt, the PMBJP is cruising towards new heights as more and more people are resorting to generic drugs instead of the branded medicines which are costlier by several times. But, the meteoric growth of the project in its wake has brought some unethical trade practices by some of these stores. The government should intervene in the matter to end this kind of unethical practices.
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