The Indian government has successfully met its target of establishing 15,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)—two months ahead of the March 2025 deadline. As of February 28, 2025, a total of 15,057 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are operational across the country, the Parliament was informed on Friday (March 28).
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda, in a written response to a Lok Sabha question, confirmed that the target was achieved in January 2025. He further announced an ambitious expansion plan, stating that the government aims to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to 20,000 by March 2026 and 25,000 by March 2027.
Highlighting the impact of the initiative, Nadda detailed the extensive medicine basket under PMBJP, which currently includes 2,047 formulations and 300 surgical products, covering essential therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, anti-infectives, oncology, and gastrointestinal care. The medicines and surgical products available at JAKs are priced 50 per cent to 80 per cent lower than their branded counterparts.
To further enhance accessibility, the government has set a target to increase the product basket to 2,100 medicines and 310 surgicals, medical consumables, and devices by March 2025.
To ensure smooth distribution and prevent supply chain disruptions, the Jan Aushadhi scheme is supported by a centralized IT-enabled system. The network is anchored by one central warehouse in Gurugram and four regional hubs in Bengaluru, Chennai, Surat, and Guwahati. Additionally, 36 distributors and an incentive-linked stocking system help maintain the consistent availability of essential medicines and fast-moving products across the country.
According to Nadda, sales of Jan Aushadhi medicines have witnessed a substantial increase, with medicines worth Rs 1,767.18 crore sold in the financial year 2024-25 till February 28, reflecting a 33 per cent growth compared to sales of Rs 1,327 crore during the previous financial year.
Since the scheme’s launch, medicines worth Rs 6,975 crore (in MRP terms) have been sold through JAKs, resulting in estimated savings of about Rs 30,000 crore for citizens when compared to the prices of branded medicines.
The government has adopted a franchise-based model to expand JAKs, inviting individual entrepreneurs, NGOs, societies, trusts, firms, and private companies to set up new outlets.
A minimum distance of 1 km is generally maintained between two Jan Aushadhi Kendras to ensure fair distribution and accessibility. The initiative has successfully facilitated the opening of JAKs at block and district levels, thereby improving healthcare access in rural and semi-urban areas.
With an average footfall of 10 to 12 lakh people daily, Jan Aushadhi Kendras have become a critical component of India’s affordable healthcare infrastructure, ensuring quality medicines at subsidized rates for millions across the country.
