India has made significant strides in enhancing affordable healthcare access under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). A total of 15,057 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs), dedicated to providing quality medicines at affordable prices, have been established across the nation as of late February 2025. This milestone underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that essential medicines reach every corner of the country.
To bolster the supply chain and ensure the availability of products at these Kendras, a comprehensive IT-enabled system has been implemented. The supply chain is anchored by a central warehouse in Gurugram, complemented by four regional warehouses strategically located in Bengaluru, Guwahati, Chennai, and Surat. Further streamlining the process, 36 distributors have been appointed to enhance the network’s efficiency nationwide.
One of the core objectives of the PMBJP scheme is ensuring the smooth supply of medicines that are in demand. Currently, the availability of 400 high-demand products is closely monitored, and a minimum stocking mandate has been introduced for 200 key medicines. This mandate includes 100 of the best-selling medicines within the scheme’s portfolio and another 100 fast-moving medicines in the wider market. To incentivize entrepreneurs managing these outlets, rewards are offered for maintaining adequate stock levels of these key products.
The entrepreneurship-driven model of Jan Aushadhi Kendras allows their operators to stock products tailored to local demand while benefiting from the robust supply chain infrastructure. The system ensures that medicines are consistently supplied to the Kendras while simultaneously promoting the stocking of high-demand products.
To address concerns about quality, stringent measures are in place. Medicines sold under the PMBJP are procured exclusively from suppliers certified for World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP). Furthermore, every batch of drugs is subjected to rigorous testing at laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). Only after successfully passing these quality tests are the medicines dispatched to JAKs. Additionally, routine quality audits of vendors’ facilities are conducted by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India.
The initiative has seen widespread adoption across states and union territories. Karnataka and Kerala lead the tally, with 1,425 and 1,528 Jan Aushadhi Kendras established respectively. Tamil Nadu follows closely with 1,363 Kendras, while Uttar Pradesh leads the nation with a remarkable 2,658 centers. The states of Bihar, Gujarat, and Maharashtra have also shown notable progress, with 812, 760, and 708 centers, respectively. Smaller regions, such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, have opened nine centers, while Lakshadweep has established one. This diverse distribution highlights the program’s reach across urban and rural India.
The success of the PMBJP reflects India’s unwavering focus on making quality healthcare accessible and affordable for its population. With robust systems, quality assurance measures, and local entrepreneurship at its core, the Jan Aushadhi scheme is bridging the gap between demand and supply for affordable medicines, marking a transformative step in India’s healthcare journey.
