PCI working with ministry of C&F to open 600 Jan Aushadhi stores in pharmacy colleges

Swati Rana, Mumbai Monday, August 08, 2016, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is working with ministry of chemical and fertilizers to promote Jan Ausadhi Scheme by establishing 500 to 600 Jan Ausadhi stores in approved pharma colleges across the country for the availability of quality medicines at affordable prices. The Council believes that the initiative will serve both the purpose of requirement of quality medicine at affordable price as well as the requirement of practical training to the student pharmacists as under the provisions of the 'the education regulations, 1991' and 'the bachelor of pharmacy course regulation, 2014'. There is a statutory requirement for students to undergo practical training in a pharmacy practice in hospital or community pharmacy. Hence by becoming a partner to Prime Minister's Jan Aushadhi Yojna (PMJAY), pharmacy institutions will fulfill the requirement. Dr B Suresh, president of PCI says, "The Council is aiming at establishing 500 to 600 Jan Aushadhi store with the support of the pharmacy colleges. The initiative will fulfill the CSR responsibility of the institute and will also create a job opportunities for the students passing out from the institutions.” He further says, “It is a good business opportunity as Jan Aushadhi store will be allowed to sell allied medical product commonly sold in the chemist shops so as to improve the viability of running the Jan Aushadhi store. Apart from the financial support, trade margin, credit facility etc, there is also a provision for 2 per cent compensation against the expiry of medicines.” An institution having around 400 students and approximately 50 to 60 staff members, the JAS will prove a captive clientele of approximately 500 families which itself is a good economic viability for opening this store. In addition to it, word of mouth promotion by student and faculty in the neighbourhood would attract more prescriptions. The capital investment is low as colleges already have enough space to operate a pharmacy store. “However, we recommend opening such a store at a location in a college which has a direct access to public so that further economic viability of the project gets strengthened and there is no disturbance to academic activities,” said Dr Suresh. The Jan Aushadhi Scheme is a direct market intervention scheme of the department of pharmaceuticals, ministry of chemicals and fertilizers with an aim is to make available quality generic medicines to all at affordable prices through Jan Aushadhi Store (JAS) opened in each district of the states. It was first launched in 2008 to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the economically weaker sections of the society. The first JAS was opened at Amritsar Civil Hospital in 2008. The PCI will extend all possible support to this scheme by way of pursuance with regulators like BPPI and the state drug control departments of issuance of license etc. The PCI invites all pharmacy institutions to support this endeavour by establishing a Jan Aushadhi store in pharmacy colleges and help in increasing the accessibility of medicines at economical rate for achieving health for all citizens of our country, added Dr Suresh. SOURCE: http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=96774&sid=1