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The Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), has blacklisted six drug suppliers in the last five years from supplying drugs to the Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) owing to non-compliance with quality standards.
The Bureau has around 206 pharmaceutical manufacturers supplying products including medicines, surgical equipment, nutraceuticals and ayurvedic products, at present, according to the Union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers.
Minister of state in the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, Anupriya Patel, has recently informed the Lok Sabha that the private companies including ANG Lifescience India, Combitic Global Caplet, Ridley Life Science, Kamal Healthcare Products, Cosmos Research Lab and Athens Life Sciences were blacklisted in the last five years.
"To ensure the quality of products, the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) procures medicines only from World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers. Each batch of drugs is tested at laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The medicines are dispatched to Jan Aushadhi Kendras after passing the quality tests," the minister said.
Procurement of products under PMBJP is done at the centralized level through an open tendering process, using the Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP) of NIC for rate contracts.
The suppliers for the JAKs include major pharmaceutical companies including Cipla Ltd, Zydus Lifesciences, Lupin Ltd, Mankind Pharma, Biocon Biologics, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Hetero Healthcare, Macleods Pharmaceuticals, MSN Laboratories, Wockhardt Ltd, Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, BDR Pharmaceuticals, Eris Lifesciences, FDC Ltd, among others.
Under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), a total of 10,404 JAKs have been opened since the financial year 2019-20 to 2024-25 (till October 31, 2024) across the country.
The highest number of Kendras opened during the period is in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar. Uttar Pradesh has seen 1,888 JAKs opening during the period, followed by 1,076 in Kerala, 959 in Karnataka, 876 in Tamil Nadu, and 612 in Bihar, according to data from the Ministry.
Under PMBJP, the government has fixed a target to open 25,000 JAKs across the country by March 31, 2027.
To ensure the supply and adequate availability of medicines at Janaushadhi Kendras, the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the Implementing Agency of the Scheme has set up a network of five warehouses at Gurugram, Chennai, Guwahati, Bengaluru and Surat. Out of which, the Bengaluru warehouse supplies medicines to JAKs in Karnataka including Shimoga.
These are backed by SAP-based inventory management systems for demand forecasting. Marketing and procurement team of PMBI also monitors the inventory levels and availability of medicines at JAKs. A Point of Sales (PoS) application for all Kendra owners provides them easy access to procure medicines.
Further, PMBI has a strong distributor network of 36 distributors spread across the country. PMBI is doing direct supply of medicines to JAKs in Karnataka through 3 distributors situated at Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Hubli.
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