- Why in news
- On 15 September 2026, PIB highlighted how PMBJP's Janaushadhi Kendras now sell baby-care, post-delivery, monitoring and elderly-care products beyond medicines, with more products in the pipeline.
- What it is
- PMBJP is a scheme of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It sells quality generic medicines at much lower prices through dedicated Janaushadhi Kendras. The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) implements it.
- Network size
- The release says there are over 20,000 Janaushadhi Kendras across the country.
- Janaushadhi Bachpan
- A range of baby-care products, including diapers and wipes, sold at the Kendras.
- Jan Aushadhi Swabhiman
- A dedicated range of adult diapers for aged, dependent or bedridden people.
- Monitoring devices
- Glucometer test strips and pulse oximeters are part of the range.
- Pipeline products
- Knee brace, walker, steam vaporizer, foot elevator pillow, pregnancy back support belt and cervical collar are under process for inclusion.
- Implementing agency
- PMBJP is implemented by the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
Don’t confuse with PMBJP vs Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: PMBJP lowers the price of medicines and products at Kendras. PM-JAY is a health insurance scheme covering hospitalisation costs.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Cuts out-of-pocket health spending, especially for recurring purchases by families and the elderly.
- Extending to surgicals and devices makes affordable care available closer to home.
Problems
- Public trust in generic medicine quality and stock availability at Kendras.
- Doctors may not prescribe generics, which limits uptake.
Way forward
- Ensure steady supply, quality testing and wider awareness of generics.
- Encourage generic prescribing and expand Kendras in rural and remote areas.
Put in your answer
Scale of network: Over 20,000 Janaushadhi Kendras provide a base for affordable healthcare access.
Beyond medicines: Product expansion reflects the aim of broadening affordable healthcare to mobility and rehabilitation products.
- 2024Mains GS2 · Q17State measures to enhance grassroots public healthcare reach, containing marketisation impact
- 2015Mains GS4 · Q11Ethics of pharma company pricing and developing affordable drug for neglected tribal disease
- 2013Mains GS3 · Q13Discuss Section 3(d) amendment and Supreme Court's Glivec patent rejection, pros and cons
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Scheme is a lasting topic, but this release is a feature on products with few testable new facts.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.