Srinagar: With the dedication of 108 Jan Aushadhi Kendras to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the UT now has 228 Kendras functional with high standard and quality medicines, surgical equipment and other requisite services available at affordable prices.
Such developments in the healthcare world of J&K have tremendously helped the ailing here in availing the best medicare within the UT that too in a total hassle-free ad transparent manner.
The people here now are completely satisfied and happy with the qualitative and quantitative improvement in healthcare utilities at their door steps which has also reduced theirs out of pocket expenditure on this account.
An official of the health department said that the initiative will popularize generic medicines among the masses and dispel the prevalent notion that low priced generic medicines are of inferior quality or are less effective.
On May 9, 2011, the first store was opened at Red Cross Building Exchange Road Srinagar after Jan Aushadhi scheme was launched in the year 2010.
The Jan Aushadhi outlets known as Jan Aushadhi Kendras are becoming popular for providing generic medicines at affordable rates with quality and efficiency at par with branded medicine.
According to official data, 11 centres have been set up in Jammu, 2 in Doda, 9 in Poonch, 5 in Rajouri, 3 in Ramban, 6 in Reasi, 10 in Samba, 4 in Kathua and 2 in Udhampur districts of the Jammu region.
Similarly, 8 such centres have been set up in Srinagar, 6 in Pulwama, 6 in Ganderbal, 5 in Bandipora, 10 in Kupwara, 6 in Anantnag, 1 in Shopian, 4 in Kulgam, 5 in Baramulla and 6 in Budgam districts of Kashmir region.
These Kendras have been established within the government health care institutions in tertiary care hospitals in Jammu and Srinagar, District Hospitals, Sub District Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres which also covered far-flung areas like Arnas, Darmi (Reasi), Sedow (Shopian) Tangdar, Kalarose and Sogam (Kupwara) to make available affordable and quality medicines available to people.
Procurement of Janaushadhi products is being executed through the e-tender portal (CPPP) of the Government of India while following SAP-based inventory management.
Besides, the administration has put in place an effective mechanism of blacklisting and debarring of vendors, suppliers and manufacturers for failure in supply and penalty for late delivery.
As per the quality of medicines is concerned, two-tier quality assurance is being maintained by procuring medicines only from WHO-GMP certified companies and testing through laboratories accredited by NABL.
