The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has published a letter from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) on free registration of pharmacists on Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana website. This letter is dated January 4, 2024.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is an initiative by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India. The initiative aims to provide affordably priced and easily accessible quality medicines.
Under this initiative, there are over 10,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country. They offer generic medicines and surgical equipment and consumables. The prices are 50% – 90% less than branded medicines available in the open market.
Medicines are procured only from those suppliers who are certified with World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO- GMP). Moreover, each batch of the drug is tested at NABL Accredited Laboratory to ensure the best quality.
Furthermore, as per PMBI Guidelines, any interested individual, NGO, society, government institution, private limited company and other legal entity registered in India can open a PMBJK.
PMBI is in receipt of online applications for the opening of PMBJK from Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). It has also issued approval letters to some PACS.
To facilitate pharmacists gaining lucrative employment opportunities, PMBI has started an initiative of registering pharmacists on its website. The aim of this exercise is to connect pharmacists with PACS employers and other applicants and to enable them to also become owners of PMBJK.
All pharmacy colleges are directed to notify their fresh graduated/ final year students to register themselves on the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana website.
PMBI has also clarified that this free registration is not a job offer but only facilitates an opportunity for such registrants to connect with entrepreneurs. Such pharmacists can apply separately for opening a new Jan Aushadhi Kendra themselves.
PMBI has also issued a state-wise list of coordinators and members for Jan Aushadhi Kendra.