AMN
The government has decided to allow two thousand Primary Agricultural Credit Societies PACS to open Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country. The decision was taken in a meeting of Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah with Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi Tuesday.
Two thousand PACS across the country will be identified to open Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras. One thousand Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras will be opened by August this year and another one thousand by December 2023. This important decision will not only increase the income of PACS and create employment opportunities but will also make medicines available at affordable prices to the people, especially those living in rural areas.
More than nine thousand 400 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across the country till now. One thousand 800 types of medicines and 285 other medical devices are available in these Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Medicines at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras are available at 50 percent to 90 percent lesser rate in comparison to the branded medicines. The Eligibility Criteria for the Individual applicants to open Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra is to have D. Pharma or B. Pharma. Any organization, NGO, charitable organization and hospital can apply for this by appointing B.Pharma or D.Pharma degree holders.
For opening Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra at least 120 square feet of space either privately owned or rented should be available. The application fee for Jan Aushadhi Kendra is five thousand rupees. Women Entrepreneurs, Divyang, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Ex-Servicemen come under Special Categories. Aspirational Districts, Himalayan Mountain Region, North-Eastern States, and Islands are in Special Areas. There is an exemption in application fee for applicants from special categories and special areas.
The incentive amount for Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra is five lakh rupees, 15 percent of monthly purchases or a maximum of 15 thousand rupees per month. One time additional incentive of two lakh rupees as reimbursement for IT and infra expenditure in special categories and areas is also provided.