Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo today inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra (PMBJAK) at the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) Batamaloo Srinagar.He was accompanied by Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Kunzes Dolma and State Drugs Controller J&K Lotika Khajuria and Nodal Officer Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertaking of India Rifat Nazir.The Financial Commissioner emphasized upon the Healthcare Practitioners to strictly prescribe generic drugs, which are low cost, to the patients. He stated that generic drugs shall cut out-of-pocket expense on purchase of medicines. He highlighted that the cost of medicines accounts for 90% of the total health expenses. He further stressed that by promoting the use of generic medicines, the end users particularly poor and downtrodden can get highly benefited.
The Financial Commissioner revealed that the government intends to operate Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) pharmacies at 16 locations across Jammu and Kashmir. These pharmacies shall provide generic/branded medicines as also reliable implants to the consumers at most competitive prices. The deadline for their establishment/functioning has been set as Ist week of December 2019.Jan Aushadhi Kendras's (JAK) are operating under the aegis of Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and are targeted to provide safe, efficacious and quality medicines at an affordable price. At present 87 JAK's are operating across Jammu and Kashmir. These establishments are maintaining an inventory of 419 molecules and also some fixed dosage combinations are available in these stores that are frequently prescribed for various life consuming diseases.