New Delhi: As many as 2,475 primary agricultural cooperative credit societies (PACS)/cooperative societies have been given initial approval by Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) for Jan Aushadhi kendras.
“So far, 4,629 PACS/Cooperative Societies from 34 States/UTs have applied online for Jan Aushadhi Kendras, out of which 2,475 PACS/ Cooperative Societies have been given initial approval by Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), Department of Pharmaceuticals (GOI),” Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
In written reply to a question, the Minister said that out of 2,475 initial approvals given to cooperative societies 617 drug licenses have been issued by the State Drug Controllers, which are ready to function as Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
So far, 4,629 PACS/Cooperative Societies from 34 States/UTs have applied online for Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
In order to improve the access of generic medicines to the rural citizens, PACS have been allowed by the government to operate Jan Aushadhi Kendras under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana of Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India.
PACS functioning as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJK will be able to provide generic medicines at affordable prices to rural citizens which are 50%-90% less than that of branded medicines in the open market, including around 2,000 drugs and around 300 surgical items.
As per National Cooperative Database, there are 1,03,369 PACS in the country.
