This public health approach to setting strict patent standards is in line with international trade rules and encourages timely entry of affordable generics into the market, driving prices down. Over the years, citizens have collectively saved up to Rs. 20,000 crores, a testament to the scheme’s impact on reducing healthcare expenditure. Collaborating with 36 distributors selected across states and union territo-ries has further bolstered the supply chain structure. With an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers in the year 2008. Under the Scheme, dedicated outlets known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) are opened to provide generic medicines at cheaper rates to the citizens. Government has set a target to open 10,500 Kendras across the country by March 2025.
How do generic medicines support government healthcare initiatives in India?
The government provides free or highly subsidised treatment for NCDs at public hospitals, with major diseases covered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY). The scheme, benefiting approximately 55 crore people, offers US$ 5,886 (Rs. 5 lakh) annual health cover for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation. Additionally, the scheme has extended coverage to senior citizens aged 70 and above. As of November 30, 2024, 218 AMRIT pharmacies operate across 29 states and Union Territories, offering discounted medicines and surgical items.
Quality Assurance
Governments of developing countries have also initiated HIV treatment programmes using generically produced medicines from India. These programmes benefit more than 15 million people who are living with HIV/AIDS. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), UNITAID and others, rely on the country’s generic antiretrovirals for the programs they support. This allowed for the production of low-cost, generic versions of medicines that were patented in other countries.
Access to affordable HIV treatment from India is one of the greatest success stories in medicine
- Jan Aushadhi Scheme was launched in November 2008 by the Department of medicinal, Ministry of Chemicals and Diseases, Government of India.
- With the health sector being a priority, the Government of India is continuously working to provide affordable treatments and medicines at cheaper prices to its citizens.
- There are more than 700 medicines; more than 150 surgicals and consumables are available at affordable prices for all at more than 4000 ‘Jan Aushadi Kedras’ across the nation.
- The Jan Aushadhi initiative will make available quality drugs at affordable prices through dedicated stores selling generic medicines which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
- Additionally, expanding the product basket, fostering public-private partnerships, enhancing cus-tomer experience, and conducting periodic evaluations will contribute to the success of the PMJAY and improve healthcare outcomes for the Indian population.
- From legislative changes in the 1970s to the expansion of the global generics market, India’s pharmaceutical industry has grown into a powerhouse.
- Generic medicines are much cheaper because they do not involve the initial research and marketing costs of branded medicines.
They must be approved by regulatory authorities like the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in India. Generic medicines are drugs that contain the same active ingredients as branded medicines, but are sold under their chemical name. They are equivalent in dosage, safety, strength, quality, and intended use, offering the same therapeutic benefits at a much lower cost.
Are generic medicines as effective as brand-name ones?
Generic medicines are much cheaper because they do not involve the initial research and marketing costs of branded medicines. However, they are bioequivalent to branded drugs and are just as safe and effective. Despite government efforts to promote generic medicines through initiatives like Jan Aushadhi Kendras, the availability of generics in rural and remote areas is still limited.
- The only significant difference is the price, as generic drugs are often 30% to 90% cheaper than branded medicines.
- Yet, the country’s marginalised populations have limited access to medicines as branded medicines are sold at significantly higher prices than their unbranded generic equivalents, despite being identical in the therapeutic value.
- Availability involves the presence of essen-tial medicines in appropriate forms and quantities at healthcare facilities.
- Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as the brand-name drugs, ensuring the same therapeutic benefits.
- According to NSO estimates, upto 79% of health care expenses in rural areas are due to the cost of medicines.
- As a leading Jan Aushadhi supplier, we are committed to making high-quality, affordable medicines available to healthcare providers and patients across India.
- From early efforts to make essential medicines affordable to becoming one of the world’s largest producers of generics, India’s generic pharmaceutical industry has a rich history.
Why are generic medicines cheaper?
- A major turning point came in 2005 when India amended its patent laws to comply with the World Trade Organization’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.
- Generic medicines play a crucial role in promoting health equity by ensuring that medications are accessible to all segments of the population, regardless of socioeconomic status.
- At $23 per dose, a manufacturer in India saw an unmet need and, in the absence of patent barriers, developed a Hepatitis B vaccine to reduce the price of the drug to less than $1 per dose.
- The Indian government has taken several initiatives to promote the use of generic medicines domestically, including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY), which provides quality generic medicines at affordable prices.
- Under the Scheme, dedicated outlets known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) are opened to provide generic medicines at cheaper rates to the citizens.
- In developing countries, India is rendering yeoman service by providing access to life saving medicines at affordable prices, he added.
- Despite government efforts to promote generic medicines through initiatives like Jan Aushadhi Kendras, the availability of generics in rural and remote areas is still limited.
This regulatory oversight helps maintain public trust in generic drugs and ensures that they are as effective as their branded counterparts. In 2008, the Indian government launched the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, later renamed Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY) in 2015. This initiative aimed to promote the use of affordable generic medicines by establishing Jan Aushadhi Kendras (stores) across India, where patients could purchase high-quality generic medicines at significantly lower prices than branded drugs. Though the government has encouraged the prescription of generic medicines, many doctors in India still prefer prescribing branded drugs due to established relationships with pharmaceutical companies or doubts about the quality of generics. Today, India is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of generic medicines, accounting for about 20% of the global supply.
Benefits of the Jan Aushadhi Scheme Campaign
AbstractThis article provides an overview of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme in India. The PMBJP scheme aims to make quality generic medicines available and affordable to all sections of society, especially the economically weaker sections. The article discusses the types of medicines available through the scheme, quality standards, certification process, pricing, and benefits to the general public.
Why Are Generic Medicines Cheaper?
This meant that Indian pharmaceutical companies could legally reverse-engineer and produce generic versions of patented drugs by using a different manufacturing process. Once a drug patent expires, multiple pharmaceutical companies can produce and sell the generic version, leading to increased competition and lower prices for consumers. Providing essential drugs and medicines at cost-effective prices revolade price in mexico is the key focus of Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Under free drug initiatve of National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided for provision of essential generic drugs free of cost in public health facilities. So it is not only the responsibility of the government to support generics, but we all should also take the initiative to support generics.
How can I be sure that the medicines on Medkart Pharmacy are genuine?
To address this issue government central government started Jan Aushadhi (Medicine for the masses) programme in 2008 with the objective of providing quality medicines at affordable prices. The research findings align with global efforts to enhance the accessibility, affordability, and acceptance of generic medi-cines, particularly through programs like India’s Jan Aushad-hi. Comparable challenges in affordability and availability resonate with international studies, emphasizing the need for continuous pricing policy review and effective public health policies. Customer satisfaction, rooted in trust and clear communication, echoes concerns highlighted in global re-search, with a shared emphasis on addressing store-related issues. [14]Collaborative efforts are crucial to fostering a comprehensive understand-ing and ensuring equitable access to generic medicines on a global scale.
Are generic medicines safe and effective?
The article also highlights the challenges faced by the PMBJP scheme in ensuring the availability and accessibility of medicines in remote areas. Furthermore, the article discusses the potential of PMBJP to expand and cover more medicines and medical devices, as well as its role in achieving the goal of universal health coverage in India. Jan Aushadhi Scheme was launched in November 2008 by the Department of medicinal, Ministry of Chemicals and Diseases, Government of India. The Government revamped ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme as ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana’ (PMJAY) in September 2015.
It enabled Indian companies to manufacture medicines at much lower costs, without infringing on patents held by multinational corporations. Before the 1970s, India’s pharmaceutical market was dominated by multinational corporations, which produced and sold branded medicines at high prices. The Indian pharmaceutical industry was relatively underdeveloped, and most medicines, especially life-saving ones, were imported, making them inaccessible to a large part of the population due to high costs. The journey of generic medicines in India has been pivotal in transforming the country’s healthcare landscape.
Jan Aushadhi and other Generic Medicine initiatives in India
Generic medicines are widely available and are often produced by multiple manufacturers once the patent for the original drug expires. This makes them more accessible to patients and healthcare providers across different regions. The scheme was a major milestone in making healthcare accessible to all citizens, especially in rural and underprivileged areas. PMJAY also helped raise awareness about the benefits of generic medicines, countering the perception that generics are of lower quality. The AIDS crisis in the late 1990s further highlighted India’s role in the global healthcare system. Indian companies, particularly Cipla, gained international recognition by producing affordable generic antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to treat HIV/AIDS, which significantly lowered the cost of treatment in Africa and other developing regions.
Indian pharmaceutical companies started exporting generic drugs to developing countries that were grappling with the high cost of healthcare. The country earned the title of the “pharmacy of the developing world”, providing essential medicines at low prices to countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Yet, the country’s marginalised populations have limited access to medicines as branded medicines are sold at significantly higher prices than their unbranded generic equivalents, despite being identical in the therapeutic value. Therefore, there is an urgent need to ensure the availability of cheaper generics to citizens; this is in the best interest of these populations.
Browse the Drugs alphabetically
Pharma companies should go above and beyond their CSR mandates to provide life saving and other essential drugs to those who cannot afford them. Our medications are sourced from Indian certified manufacturers and meet global regulatory standards. Our support team works tirelessly to assist patients and healthcare providers with their medication requirements.
Many rural pharmacies may not stock a wide range of generics due to logistical challenges or low demand, leading patients to rely on more expensive branded alternatives. Generic medicines are drugs that contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts but are sold under their chemical names, without any brand identity. The only significant difference is the price, as generic drugs are often 30% to 90% cheaper than branded medicines. “Making quality medicines available at affordable prices has been a key challenge. We will reinvigorate the supply of generic drugs. 3,000 Stores under Prime Minister’s Jan Aushadhi Yojana will be opened during 2017.”
- Though the government has encouraged the prescription of generic medicines, many doctors in India still prefer prescribing branded drugs due to established relationships with pharmaceutical companies or doubts about the quality of generics.
- The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) imparts quality education in the areas of pharmaceutical sciences.
- Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra scheme ensures quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all citizens.
- This leads to lower costs because generic manufacturers do not incur the high expenses of research and marketing.
- There is immense scope for technology, innovation and research in pharmaceuticals.
- Only after passing the quality tests, the medicines are dispatched to PMBJP Kendras.
- For the benefit of the Indian population, DR BEST Pharmaceuticals also took a great initiative by starting their online pharmacy, which offers generic medicines with up to 80% discount at your doorsteps.
Are generic medicines as effective as brand-name ones?
Indian pharmaceutical companies manufacture a wide range of generic drugs, including antibiotics, antivirals, and medicines for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. In India, generic pharmaceuticals are crucial to lowering healthcare costs and increasing access. We may better appreciate their vital function in the healthcare system if we are aware of their advantages, difficulties, and legal environment.
There are more than 700 medicines; more than 150 surgicals and consumables are available at affordable prices for all at more than 4000 ‘Jan Aushadi Kedras’ across the nation. This uncompromising stand has been demonstrated through the granting of compulsory licence in 2012 to an Indian manufacturer to produce a cancer drug, the patent for which was held by the German company Bayer. Bayer’s pricing had made the drug unaffordable to poor cancer patients in India, Africa and elsewhere. Presently over 80 per cent of the antiretroviral drugs used globally to combat AIDS are supplied by Indian pharmaceutical firms.
- In 2008, the Indian government launched the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, later renamed Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY) in 2015.
- This can confuse consumers, and in some cases, patients may not experience the cost savings they expect.
- But the quality of the generic drugs is never compromised.These are cost-effective only as research and development, and drug discovery costs are not involved in the case of generic drugs.
- Also, a visit to a Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra was done to evaluate the operational of the scheme.
- They are equivalent in dosage, safety, strength, quality, and intended use, offering the same therapeutic benefits at a much lower cost.
Long monopoly of a single company in the US keeps prices high because generic competition is blocked. A ‘public first’ approach to policy, strict medicine patent law and doctors who have used reverse-engineering to introduce generic drugs, are some of the reasons that India has emerged as the ‘pharmacy’ of the developing world. This has resulted in substantial savings to common man as prices of generic medicines being sold in the PMBJP Kendras is lower by 50% to 90% of the equivalent branded medicines. This problem gets further aggravated as almost 80% of expenditure on health care is borne by the patients themselves. Thus, access to low-priced generic drugs is very critical in ensuring health care at affordable prices. Yes, generic medicines are required to meet the same safety, quality, and efficacy standards as branded medicines.
As a leading Jan Aushadhi supplier, we are committed to making high-quality, affordable medicines available to healthcare providers and patients across India. Contact us today for bulk orders and learn more about how we support the mission of affordable healthcare. The government should implement policies that incentivize doctors to prescribe generic medicines. Additionally, healthcare professionals should be trained on the efficacy of generics to shift prescribing practices. Generic drugs in India must meet strict quality standards set by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
Today, India is the world’s primary source of affordable HIV medicines as it is one of the few countries with the capacity to quickly produce newer HIV drugs as generics. Big pharmaceutical corporations with patent monopolies were charging over $10,000 per patient per year for antiretrovirals (HIV medicines), thereby making treatment economically unviable for millions of patients in the developing world. All Generic and Branded Medicines and the rest of the essential medical products on Medkart Pharmacy are sourced directly from reputable manufacturers, ensuring authenticity and compliance with industry standards. The production of affordable generics helped address critical healthcare needs in India, particularly in treating infectious diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, which were prevalent across the country. Quality medicines at affordable prices are now available to the poor and disadvantaged through the “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan aushadhi Kendras”.
We aim to make advanced medications affordable and accessible for patients everywhere. Indiangenericprice believes that no one should be deprived of essential healthcare, regardless of their location or financial situation. Our goal is to transform global healthcare access by breaking down barriers through convenience and affordability. In contrast to India’s stricter patentability criteria, the U.S. allows the practice of ‘evergreening’ that helps delay generic competition and keeps prices high. It is a common tactic by which the pharmaceutical industry extends their monopoly on drugs beyond the original patent’s 20 years.
With rising healthcare costs, the availability of generic drugs has provided relief to patients by offering low-cost alternatives without compromising on quality. This article explores the significance of generic medicines in India, their role in the healthcare system, and why they are key to reducing out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare. Out of Pocket expenditure on medicines constitutes more than 50% of healthcare expenditure in India. The poor are most affected as branded medicines are expensive and treatments involving the use of such medicines pushes them further into poverty.
In a very proactive move, the Government of India is setting up an electronic platform to regulate the profusion of online pharmacies that are coming up, under a new policy, to stop any misuse due to easy availability. India has always taken a bold and exemplary stand against blind patent protection that benefit global pharma giants. India already has the second highest number of US FDA approved facilities and labour costs in Indian are significantly lower than other manufacturing hubs.
‘Pharma Jan Samadhan’, a customer grievances redressal system was launched and a mobile application – ‘Pharma Sahi Daam’ that provides real-time information to consumers on prices of Scheduled/Non-scheduled medicines has also been introduced. Healthcare and its allied industries being the fifth-largest employer among all sectors, the Vice President asked the industry to invest in skilling. Given the significance of highly educated and specialized scientists in the sector, skill development is crucial, he said.
We deliver medications worldwide, ensuring that patients from all corners of the globe receive the care they need. You can trust Indiangenericprice for reliable access to specialized medications that are affordable and delivered worldwide. Dr. Yussef Hamied from India electrified the world by announcing that the generic company Cipla would manufacture and supply the triple fixed-dose combination of HIV antiretrovirals at $1 a day, a 99.99 percent price cut. Generic drugs are easily available across India, especially with the increasing number of Jan Aushadhi stores in rural and urban areas. New molecules and new drugs will have to be discovered and treatment protocols will have to be continuously upgraded and updated. The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) imparts quality education in the areas of pharmaceutical sciences.
National Skill Development Coorporation has identified more than 60 job roles for the pharmacy graduates and post gradutes for consideration under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna. Healthcare is the fifth-largest employer among all sectors, both in terms of direct and indirect employment. Given the significance of highly educated and specialized scientists in the sector, skill development is crucial. The government and the Pharma sector in unison have managed to effectively harness the power of Information technology to improve efficiency. Under the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, as on December 15, 2016, ceiling price of 853 formulations are under price control.
When looking for effective and affordable treatment choices, Dr. Best advises patients and healthcare professionals to explore generic options. In India, generic medicine sales appear to be on the rise, as long as the government continues to encourage them. Most people worry about the quality and effectiveness of generic medicines because generic drugs are not as costly as compared to branded drugs.
The Mantras in these ancient texts contain a wealth of information regarding herbs, metals, medicines, diseases and treatments. They speak of the astounding properties and powers that herbs and plants possess to cure diseases. The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has called up on the pharmaceutical industry to work towards making India an International Capital of Generic Medicines. With years of experience and partnerships across the pharmaceutical industry, we guarantee timely and secure delivery. We provide a wide range of specialty drugs, from anti-viral treatments to nephrology drugs, addressing complex medical needs. As a result the drug – imatinib mesylate –produced generically costs $790 per patient per year in India compared to $106, 322 per patient per year in the US.
