Latest news with #JanAushadi
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Joshi demands withdrawal of decision on closure of Jan Aushadi centres in State
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi has said that the State government is closing down Jan Aushadi (generic medicine) centres on government hospital premises just because they have the portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that the decision be rescinded immediately. Speaking to presspersons in Hubbalil on Monday, Mr. Joshi said that while the Health Minister has claimed that free medicine are being given in government hospitals, medicine for even blood pressure and diabetes are not being made available. 'There are around 10,000 Jan Aushadi centres across the country and nowhere they are being closed except in Karnataka. We will fight against it,' he said. The Union Minister said that minority appeasement has reached its pinnacle under the Congress rule in the State and the High Court has already rapped the State government on its knuckles for its decision to withdraw cases related to the Old Hubballi riots. 'While the State government has registered a case against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for hate speech, it has withdrawn cases against those who attacked a police station. This is a clear example of the Congress' appeasement politics,' he said. Mr. Joshi clarified that the BJP is not opposed to all Muslims. 'We only oppose Muslim fundamentalists, communal elements among them and terrorists. However, the appeasement politics of the Congress is affecting the security of the country and also of the State. Under Congress rule, Karnataka has become a safe haven for Muslim fundamentalists,' he said. Mr. Joshi said that while Pakistan has admitted to the fact that India destroyed its air bases in Operation Sindoor, the Congress leaders are asking for evidence. Despite India gaining a upperhand in the operation against terrorists, the Congress is not happy, he mocked. The Union Minister termed AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge's demand for a special parliamentary session to deliberate on Operation Sindoor as childish. 'Just because a special session is being convened in Pakistan on the issue, Congress leaders should not speak like spokespersons of Pakistan. Shortly, a parliamentary session will be convened and all issues will be deliberated upon,' he said. Replying to a query, the Union Minister said that the country has accepted the ideology of the RSS and the BJP, while rejecting the ideology of the Congress. Repeated attempts to launch Rahul Gandhi as a leader have failed and so has Rahul Gandhi, he said. Terming actor Kamal Haasan's statement on Kannada as wrong, Mr. Joshi said that Tamil, Telugu and Kannada are ancient languages and Kamal Haasan has spoken without any scientific basis and thereby created a rift. However, neither the Chief Minister nor the Deputy Chief Minister have condemned his remarks and Kannada activists should question Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar about it, he said.
New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Andhra government to set up Jan Aushadhi shops at all GGHs to curb overpricing on drugs
VIJAYAWADA: The State health department has decided to set up Jan Aushadhi shops at all Government General Hospitals (GGHs) to provide affordable generic medicines and curb excessive pricing by private drug retailers. Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav approved the initiative following a review of existing private medical stores operating at 16 GGHs. Currently, 23 private stores operate in these hospitals, while Nandyal GGH has none. These stores have been flagged for charging profit margins ranging from 50% to 600% on certain drugs, officials said. The proposed Jan Aushadi outlets will be run by the Indian Red Cross Society under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadi Pariyojana (PM-BJAP). The scheme mandates a maximum profit margin of 15%, aiming to prevent price exploitation. Sales will be monitored using software developed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to ensure pricing transparency. Officials highlighted that many private stores currently operate under the guise of self-help groups or cooperative societies but exploit pricing loopholes, sell branded drugs without prescriptions, and stock only 30% to 40% of essential generic medicines. Jan Aushadhi shops will primarily stock generic drugs, with exceptions for branded medicines permitted only with prior approval and when generic alternatives are unavailable. Minister Yadav has also directed health officials to assess the feasibility of expanding Jan Aushadhi outlets to District and Area Hospitals, given the higher patient footfall in these facilities. District Collectors, who head local Red Cross branches, will oversee the rollout and functioning of these stores to ensure accountability and better patient service, officials added.
Hans India
11-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Jan Aushadi shops to come up at all govt General Hospitals in AP
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Health Ministry has decided to introduce 'Jan Aushadi' shops at all the Government General Hospitals (GGH) to ensure availability of required quality generic medicines at affordable prices to a large number of patients visiting government hospitals. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav approved a proposal in this regard for operating Jan Aushadi shops at all the 17 Government General Hospitals (GGHs). The Minister also directed the officials to explore the possibility of running such shops at district and area hospitals also in the state. This decision has been taken in the context of present operators of generic medical shops at GGHs charging a profit margin of 50 per cent to a high of 600 per cent in some cases. At present, 23 private generic medicine stores are running at 16 GGH while Nandyal GGH has no such store. Indian Red Cross Society, a reputed no-profit organization, will set up and operate these Jan Aushadi shops as per the approval. Deficiencies in the present system Generic medicine retailers currently operating at 16 GGHs are taking advantage of the loopholes in the manufacturing and pricing of generic drugs and inadequate controls and are exploiting the patients. The manufacturers of generic medicines are printing very high MRPs (maximum retail price) against which the retailers are offering different discounts at different places on different medicines and in the process, making huge profits in the range of 50 per cent to 600 per cent. Also, they are making available only about 30 per cent to 40 per cent of generic drugs required and supplying costly branded drugs for the rest. While the present 23 generic shops have been allocated to self-help groups and other societies, private persons are reported to be running them with an aim to make huge profits. Jan Aushadi benefits To address the deficiencies in the present system, central government has introduced 'Pradhan Mantri- Bharatiya Jan Aushadi Pariyojana' (PM-BJP) to enable supply of quality generic drugs at affordable prices to the patients across the country. Under this scheme, Department of Pharmaceuticals of Govt. of India procures generic drugs with standard MRP printed for supplying to Jan Aushadi shops which in turn sell them with only 15 per cent profit margin, thus benefitting patients. Every sale is to be recorded on the special software developed by the central government which prevents malpractices since the retailers can't manipulate selling prices of generic medicines. In addition, Jan Aushadi shops will not sell costly branded drugs except in very rare cases. While approving the proposal for introduction of Jan Aushadi shops at GGHs in the state, Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Saturday directed the officials to examine the possibility of their operation at Area and District Hospitals as well given the advantages to patients.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Government gives the nod for setting up ‘Jan Aushadi Kendras' at all GGHs in Andhra Pradesh
In a bid to check the retailers' exploitation of consumers and ensure availability of generic medicines at affordable prices, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Y. Satya Kumar Yadav has approved the setting up of Jan Aushadi Kendras at all the 17 Government General Hospitals (GGHs) in the State. These Jan Aushadi Kendras will be run by the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) headed by the District Collectors. According to an official release, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav approved the proposal during a review meeting on Saturday, and also directed the officials to explore the possibility of opening such kendras at the district and area hospitals as well. Fleecing of patients The decision was taken after it came to the officials' notice that the existing operators of generic medical shops at the GGHs were charging a profit margin of anywhere between 50% and 600%. While these stores were at first allocated to the self-help groups and other societies, it was found that private individuals were running them to extract profits. At present, 23 generic medicine stores were functioning at the 16 GGHs, except at the Nandyal GGH. The release said the manufacturers print higher than the original MRP, against which the retailers were offering different discounts at different places on different medicines, and in the process were making huge profits, whose margin was anywhere between 50% and 600%. The officials also noted that the retailers were not storing all the required drugs, and that they make available only 30-40% of these, forcing the patient to shift to branded drugs, which happen to be pricier. The absence of a compulsory billing system was also leading to sale of medicines for higher profits. Launched in 2008 as Jan Aushadhi Scheme by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the now-renamed 'Pradhan Mantri- Bharatiya Jan Aushadi Pariyojana' (PM-BJP) enables supply of quality generic drugs at affordable prices to the patients across the country. Under the scheme, the Department of Pharmaceuticals procures generic drugs with standard MRP, printed for supplying to the Jan Aushadi shops, which in turn sell them with only 15% profit margin. Every sale is to be recorded on the special software developed by the Central government that prevents malpractices. The Jan Aushadi stores sell only generic medicines, and if the same is not available for a particular disease, they sell branded ones, after approval from the authorities.
