The Government has recently enhanced the incentive granted to Jan Aushadhi Kendra (JAK) storeowners from the existing Rs 2.50 lakhs to up to Rs 5 lakhs, given at the rate of 15 per cent of monthly purchases made, subject to a ceiling of Rs 15,000 per month, Mansukh Mandaviya, Health Minister, informed Rajya Sabha 5th.

Apart from it, he said that under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), the government has opened 8,001 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) as on 2nd August, 2021, covering all the districts of the country, and aims to open about 10,500 JAKs by March 2025. The state governments/UT administrations have been requested from time to time to facilitate the opening of JAKs in the premises of Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs)/Community Health Centers (CHCs)/hospitals, including super-specialty hospitals, by providing rent-free space within their premises. As on 2nd August, 2021, about 1,012 kendras are functioning inside the government’s premises.

Further, the government has recently approved additional one-time incentive of Rs 2 lakhs for purchasing of furniture and fixtures to the PMBJKs opened in aspirational districts, Island territories, North Eastern States and PMBJKs opened by women entrepreneurs, Divyangs, and SCs and STs, he mentioned.