178 Jan Aushadhi Stores have been opened across the country since the inception of the scheme against which only 98 are functional as on date. The Scheme is being revisited to expand its reach across the country. Details are being worked out by Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India (BPPI) in consultation with Department of Pharmaceuticals.
The third party evaluation of Public Health Foundation of India noted five major reasons for under performance of the scheme:
(a) Over dependence on support from State Government;
(b) Poor Supply Chain Management;
(c) Non-prescription of Generic Medicines;
(d) Health Policies of Central/State Governments-Free Supply of Drugs;
(e) Lack of awareness
Wherever Jan Aushadhi Stores have been opened, the concerned State Governments are issuing instructions/guidelines to their Doctors in the Government Hospitals to prescribe generic medicines. Similar instructions are also reported to have been issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to the Doctors to prescribe medicines in generic names. In addition BPPI is engaging Indian Medical Association and other Doctors in the initiative.