SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has 373 functional Jan Aushadhi Kendras, while Ladakh has three, according to data presented by the Union Government in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
The figures were provided by Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda in a written reply to Unstarred Question No. 942, raised by Shri Malaiyarasan D, in the Lok Sabha on July 24, 2026.
As on June 30, 2026, a total of 20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras were operational across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). The 373 Kendras in Jammu and Kashmir account for about 1.9 per cent of the national network, while Ladakh’s three Kendras represent a much smaller share.
The national network includes 2,110 medicines and 315 surgical items, medical consumables and devices covering major therapeutic categories, including cardiovascular, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-infective, anti-allergic and gastro-intestinal medicines, as well as nutraceuticals. According to the Minister, these medicines are generally priced between 50 per cent and 80 per cent lower than branded alternatives.
The Government said quality control measures include sourcing medicines only from WHO-GMP compliant manufacturing units, 100 per cent pre-testing of medicine batches before their distribution from PMBI warehouses, and testing of samples at laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and assessed by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) for Good Laboratory Practices compliance.
The Government’s independent evaluation of the scheme during 2023-24 found that expansion of the Jan Aushadhi network had improved access to affordable generic medicines, including in rural, remote and underserved areas.
To minimise supply disruptions, the Government has incentivised Jan Aushadhi Kendras since September 2024 to maintain stocks of 200 commonly used medicines, comprising the 100 top-selling medicines under the scheme and 100 fast-selling medicines in the market. The Kendras receive a monthly incentive based on the stocks maintained.
The supply chain is supported by an end-to-end information technology-enabled system connecting five warehouses and 42 distributors across the country. PMBI also regularly monitors 400 fast-moving products and continuously assesses demand, with steps being taken to digitise demand estimation to strengthen procurement.
The Government has set a target of opening 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras by March 2027. It is also conducting awareness campaigns through print, television, radio, social media, outdoor publicity, community engagement, WhatsApp chatbot services and outbound calls.
The reply said Jan Aushadhi Week is observed every year during the first week of March, featuring activities such as public rallies, health camps, seminars and children’s engagement programmes. Awareness initiatives in rural areas also include health camps, nukkad-nataks, audio-visual displays at Common Service Centres and public engagement workshops in local languages and dialects.
For complaints relating to the availability of generic medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras, the Government has provided the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), the email address [email protected] and the PMBJP helpline number 1800 180 8080.
The scheme’s fund utilisation stood at Rs 110 crore against a revised estimate of Rs 110 crore in 2023-24; Rs 182.73 crore against Rs 284.50 crore in 2024-25; and Rs 190 crore against a revised estimate of Rs 190 crore in 2025-26. For 2026-27, the budget and revised estimates were Rs 200.50 crore, of which Rs 50 crore had been utilised up to June 30, 2026.
