Healthcare costs in India can be overwhelming, pushing millions into poverty each year. Medicines, often the biggest expense, are out of reach for many low-income families. However, a government initiative called Jan Aushadhi aims to change this by offering affordable generic medicines. Despite challenges, these pharmacies have been a lifeline for many.
A Lifeline for the Poor: Jan Aushadhi Stores
Khawar Khan, a reserved and serious man, rarely smiles. But when he sees the relief on his customers’ faces after selling medicines at a fraction of the regular cost, he can’t help but smile.
One such customer was an autorickshaw driver who used to spend ₹10,000 per month on his wife’s medicines—his entire salary. At Khan’s store, he got the same medicines for just ₹2,200. The joy and relief on his face were unforgettable.
Had he not found this government-backed pharmacy, he would have been among the 55 million Indians pushed into poverty every year due to medical expenses, according to the Public Health Foundation of India. Alarmingly, 38 million of them fall below the poverty line solely due to medicine costs.
How Jan Aushadhi Works
Khan’s small pharmacy is in Jamia Nagar, New Delhi. Unlike private pharmacies, his store sells only generic medicines—drugs that are just as effective as branded ones but cost much less. These are supplied by the government under the Jan Aushadhi scheme, launched in 2008.
Initially, the scheme struggled because there were too few medicines available. However, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government took charge in 2014, it expanded rapidly. Today, there are over 3,000 Jan Aushadhi stores across India, up from just 97 in 2014.
While this is a positive step, the number of stores is still too low for a country of India’s size. Many people must travel long distances to find one, and even when they do, medicines are often in short supply.
The Challenge: Medicine Shortages
Despite the government’s efforts, most Jan Aushadhi stores receive only 100-150 types of medicines, instead of the promised 600+. Store owners frequently struggle with missing essential medicines, such as calcium supplements and oral rehydration salts.
Shivdan Singh, a former store owner in Chhatarpur, shared his frustration:
“I only received 30% of my orders. I hated turning away elderly patients who had traveled 20 km for medicine. Since my sales weren’t enough to make a profit, I had to shut down after a year.”
Khan, too, is barely breaking even but is willing to give it one more year before deciding his next step.
Advesh Kumar, Deputy Marketing Manager at Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India, acknowledges the shortage problem:
“Demand is higher than expected. We lacked the technology to predict medicine needs accurately. However, with new software, we aim to fix this within two months.”
The Impact on Families
For many poor families, Jan Aushadhi stores are a lifesaver. Shazad Choudhury, a customer at Khan’s store, needed medicines for multiple family members suffering from diabetes, hypertension, kidney infections, and depression.
“If I had to buy these from a normal pharmacy, I’d be on the streets. But waiting weeks for some medicines is frustrating. The government must ensure full stock,” he says.
Similarly, construction worker Kishore Dutt faced a heartbreaking choice: Should he buy medicines for his 82-year-old grandmother or feed his children? His relatives advised him to let her die because the medicines were too expensive.
Fortunately, he found Khan’s store and bought the medicines at an affordable price.
“I’m rushing back to my nani (grandmother). I hope these medicines help her recover,” he says.
The Need for Awareness: Doctors and Generic Medicines
One major issue affecting the scheme is doctors’ reluctance to prescribe generic medicines. Despite the Medical Council of India ordering them to do so, many still prefer branded drugs.
Khan recalls a case where a doctor falsely claimed generic drugs were ineffective.
“Doctors must be educated about generic medicines. Misinformation hurts the poor,” he says.
The Jan Aushadhi scheme is a step in the right direction, helping thousands of poor families afford essential medicines. However, supply shortages, lack of awareness, and low store numbers remain significant hurdles. If the government can ensure better availability of medicines and educate doctors about generics, the initiative could transform millions of lives.
For now, people like Khawar Khan continue their mission—offering affordable healthcare, one prescription at a time.
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