Jan Aushadhi Diwas (Generic Medicine Day) is annually observed on 7th March across India to raise awareness about the importance of Generic Medicines and to highlight the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
- 7th March 2025 marks the observance of 7th Jan Aushadhi Diwas.
- The day is annually organised by the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), under the aegis of the Department of Pharmaceuticals(DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers (MoC&F).
What is Generic Medicine?
i.A generic medicine contains the same active ingredient as a brand-name drug but is available after the brand-name drug’s patent expires, maintaining the same chemical composition as the originally patented drug.
ii.They are marketed under a non-proprietary or approved generic name rather than a brand name.
Background
i.On 7th March 2019, the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi declared the 7th March of every year as Jan Aushadhi Diwas.
ii.Jan Aushadhi Diwas Week is observed from March 1st to 7th . Last day of the Jan Aushadhi Diwas Week is observed as Jan Aushadhi Diwas.
Jan Aushadhi Diwas Week 2025 :
- 1st March – Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and MoC&F flagged off the event with a Rath Yatra to promote PMBJP.
- 2nd March – Jan Arogya Mela was held, featuring heritage walks and over 500 health camps for senior citizens.
- 3rd March – Focused on children’s participation and distributing nutraceutical products.
- 4th March – The distribution of sanitary pads emphasized women’s engagement and demonstrated the affordability of Jan Aushadhi products.
- 5th March – Pharmacist awareness seminars were conducted in 30 cities to educate healthcare professionals.
- 6th March – The “Jan Aushadhi Mitra” campaign was launched nationwide to encourage community participation. This campaign aims to strengthen community engagement and spread awareness about the benefits of PMBJP across India.
- 7th March – The event ended with the Jan Aushadhi Diwas Celebration.
About Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):
i.The PMBJP was launched in November 2008 by the DoP, MoC&F, in collaboration with Central Pharma Public Sector Undertakings(PSUs).
ii.The initiative aims to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the public through dedicated outlets called Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK).
iv.The program has improved healthcare affordability and created a viable path for self-employment, providing steady and consistent income, with more than 15,000 Janaushadhi Kendras now operational in all districts.
v.As a significant step towards ensuring women’s health security in India, Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkins were launched in August 2019, at an affordable price of just Rs 1 per pad.
vi.The Jan Aushadhi SUGAM mobile application(app) was launched in August 2019 and offers various user-friendly features. It allows users to locate nearby Kendras via Google Maps, search for Jan Aushadhi generic medicines, and compare the prices of generic and branded drugs in terms of Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and overall savings.
Features of PMBJP:
- Affordable Prices: Jan Aushadhi medicines cost 50%-80% less than branded medicines in the market.
- Quality Assurance: Medicines are sourced only from World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified manufacturers to ensure quality.
- Testing for Quality: Every batch of medicine is tested in National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories(NABL) -accredited labs for high-quality standards.
- Monthly Incentive: A monthly incentive of up to Rs. 20,000 is given, based on 20% of monthly purchases and stocking requirements.
- One-Time Incentive for Special Locations: A one-time incentive of Rs. 2.00 lakh is given to PMBJP Kendras in specific regions (like North-East, Himalayan areas, Islands, and backward areas) or those opened by women, ex-servicemen, Divyang, or cheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) individuals.
About Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F):
Union Minister – Jagat Prakash Nadda (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Anupriya Patel (Constituency – Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
