Jan Aushadhi Stores opened to provide cheap (generic) medicines to the patients and can still provide only a few prescribed medicines. Patients and their relatives reach these populist stores with expectations, but only half return with medicines. Pockets have to be loosened by expensive medicines at private shops for the rest.
The employees posted at Jan Aushadhi Kendras also admit that they do not have all the medicines prescribed by the doctors.
Jan Aushadhi Store was first opened about two years ago at Gandhinagar Hospital in Jammu. This was the first hospital where generic medicines were available. Stores were also open in the medical college at that time, but they did not keep generic medicines despite the court’s order. In the last month, Prime Minister Jan Aushadhi Stores have also opened in Government Medical College, Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital, Super Specialty Hospital, Psychiatric Hospital and Chest Diseases Hospital. These affordable drugstores are already available outside both GMC Jammu and SMGS Hospital.
Amish Mahajan
