In a fresh push for generic drugs, the Centre is planning to open Janaushadhi Kendras at railways stations across India. Currently, there are over 1,600 Janaushadhi Kendras in over 450 districts across the country, that have opened under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), said Anand Kumar, minister for chemicals and fertilizers at a press conference on Tuesday.
The decision to open the stores selling generic medicines at railways stations came after Kumar's detailed discussion with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. “We will utilise the vast railway infrastructure to increase accessibility of cheap, quality generic drugs for the common man”, said Kumar.
The emphasis on generic drugs, particularly by the union ministry of health and family welfare as well as Kumar's ministry, can be traced to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement in April on making generic drugs mandatory.
The move generated controversy, particularly by doctors, who insisted that they needed to retain the autonomy to write prescriptions based on their experience. Last week too, thousands of doctors affiliated to the Indian Medical Association protested in New Delhi, citing the generic drug decision as one of their concerns.
Doctors have also cited the issue of drug quality among generic drugs. Kumar, however, insisted that the drugs available at these stores meet the WHO GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) benchmarks.
At the press meet, it was announced that both Kumar and Prabhu had directed senior officers in their ministries to work out the modalities and the strategy for rolling out the plan to open these stores at railway stations.
Having these stores at major railway stations might help increase access to cheap, generic drugs, but for the plan to succeed, the government will have to address issues of quality, and also ensure that an adequate supply of essential drugs is maintained at these shops.
