'Janaushadhi sales to beat aim'

The sales target of ₹2,000 crore for the Janaushadhi Kendras will likely be exceeded this year, given the 40% annual growth, Arunish Chawla, secretary of the department of pharmaceuticals, said in an interview to Mint.

- Priyanka Sharma & Gireesh Chandra Prasad

"The target of ₹2,000 crore of actual sales, which means its value in the open-market equivalent is ₹10,000 crore, is likely to be exceeded. The Janaushadhi kendras are expanding their reach within the country," said Chawla, who is the chairperson of the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI).

The quality certified generic medicines sold at kendras (centres) operating under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) help to moderate the prices of medicines and create a benchmarking effect, Chawla said.