Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today reviewed the implementation of Jan Aushidi Scheme in Jammu and Kashmir at a high-level meeting of officers held here today.Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medial Education, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, General Secretary IRC, J&K, Mr. M.S. Rather, Managing Director, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Controller Drugs & Food Control Organization, J&K, Ms. Lotika Khajuria, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr. Gurjeet Singh, Additional Secretary H&ME, Naseer Ahmed Wani and Divisional Nodal Officer, NHM, Dr. Harjeet Rai attended the meeting.The issues related to the smooth implementation of flagship programme in the health institutions across the State were discussed in detail and the stress was laid to strengthen the existing mechanism to achieve the objective of this patient friendly programme of Central Government of India.
The Minister sought details and performance of Jan Aushadhi Kendras established and called for taking all necessary measures to spread the network in the left out areas to achieve its very objective as has been envisaged by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.The objective of this important component of Government of India, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers is to ensure availability of quality medicines at affordable prices for all, especially to the poor and the disadvantaged by establishing a network of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country wherein as many as 444 such Kendras have been set up till date. These Kendras are run by the Government in close association with the State Governments and NGOs/Charitable Societies in the in the government institutions to provide cheaper and genuine medicines to the patients.It was decided in the meeting to designate two Nodal Officers one each at Kashmir and Jammu to look into the gaps to further strengthen the network of these Kendras. The Minister urged the Commissioner-Secretary H&ME to take all necessary measures to implement the programme in letter in spirits at ground level.