Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) performance and expansion under PMBJP scheme
Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) performance metrics, expansion count, medicine basket breadth, and supply-demand management under PMBJP
- PMBJP uses Jan Aushadhi Kendras as last-mile retail points for generic medicines, and PMBI reports performance and operational measures for availability and sales.
- PMBJP reports that almost all generic medicines in the NLEM are included in the scheme product basket, excluding lab reagents and vaccines.
What happened: PMBJP reports JAK performance, expansion, and supply-demand measures
The Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) reports that it continuously evaluates Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Yojna (PMBJP) using JAK sale performance and scheme performance metrics. The government claim links these efforts with improved access to quality generic medicines at affordable prices across India and reduced household out-of-pocket expenditure.
According to the government statement, as of 30.06.2026, the JAK network stands at 20,149 centres. The PMBJP product basket is reported to include 2,110 medicines and 315 surgicals, medical consumables and devices covering major therapeutic groups such as cardiovascular, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-infectives, anti-allergic and gastro-intestinal medicines and nutraceuticals. The government also states that almost all generic medicines in the National List of Essential Medicines (except lab reagents and vaccines) are part of this basket.
UPS C can frame the issue as how PMBJP uses an expanding retail network (JAKs), a defined essential-medicines-aligned product basket, and an IT-enabled supply chain with stock monitoring and incentives to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure. The policy design also raises implementation questions on ensuring uninterrupted availability of essential medicines across underserved districts while scaling last-mile access through entrepreneurship.
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