Jan Aushadhi Kendras Help Bihar Residents Save Nearly ₹2,000 Crore; Medicines Up to 80% Cheaper Than Branded Drugs

Bihar News : Jan Aushadhi Kendras operating under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) are estimated to have helped people in Bihar save nearly ₹2,000 crore on medicines over the past 12 years.

Although the government does not separately maintain state-specific savings data, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare estimates that these savings have resulted from the availability of affordable generic medicines.

At the national level, citizens are estimated to have saved around ₹45,000 crore during the same period.

Bihar Has 1,304 Jan Aushadhi Kendras

Bihar currently has 1,304 Jan Aushadhi Kendras. When the scheme began in 2014, the state had fewer than half a dozen such centres.

Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) have also been permitted to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras. However, opening such centres is voluntary and not mandatory for PACS.

Across India, Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened in 846 PACS, including 22 in Bihar.

Target of 25,000 Centres by March 2027

The government aims to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country to 25,000 by March 2027. No separate state-wise targets have been fixed.

As of July 2026, 20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras were operational nationwide. The programme had started with just 80 centres in 2014.

More Than 2,100 Medicines Available

The Jan Aushadhi product basket currently includes:

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• 2,110 medicines
• 315 surgical products and medical devices

These cover major therapeutic categories, including medicines for heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, infections, allergies and gastrointestinal disorders, along with nutraceutical products.

Medicines 50–80% Cheaper Than Branded Alternatives

Generic medicines available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras are generally 50% to 80% cheaper than branded medicines.

The lower prices have helped reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure for families while improving access to essential medicines.

Jan Aushadhi Network Expanding Through PACS

In Bihar:

• 420 PACS have been selected for Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
• 302 PACS have received approval.
• 30 PACS have obtained drug licences.
• 26 PACS have been allotted store codes.

Across India, more than 4,250 PACS have received approval to establish Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

District-Wise Jan Aushadhi Kendras in Bihar

The Jan Aushadhi programme has emerged as an important initiative for making quality generic medicines affordable and accessible, while significantly reducing the financial burden of healthcare on families.