India to relaunch “Jan Aushadi” (medicines for all) generics scheme

The Indian government's plan to open around 5,000 low-cost medical stores and pharmacies across the country appears to have been given a fresh lease of life, with a pilot scheme set to relaunch the sale of cheap, and in some cases free, generic drugs across six states, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

First launched in 2008, the Jan Aushadi scheme (medicines for all) that aims at making medicines more affordable across the country, was stillborn with only 98 stores in operation out of the initial 178 functional stores. The initiative will establish special pharmacies that are licensed by the government, to promote the use of inexpensive generic medicines.

The pharmacy chains would sell generic drugs like cardiovasculars, antibiotics, anti infective and gastrointestinals at prices that are at over 50% discount to branded drugs.