Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland observed Jan Aushadhi Diwas at NHAK Auditorium, Kohima on 7th March 2023.
Commissioner & Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Nagaland Y. Kikheto Sema IAS said the initiative of the Prime minister Jan Aushadhi Diwas was celebrated on 7th March of every year from 2019 for enhancing awareness about the scheme and promoting genetic medicines. He said this scheme has significantly impacted the lives of the common people by providing quality and affordable prices. He also said that during the last few years, the number of Jan Aushadhi stores has grown to more than ninety thousand covering almost all the districts of the country. The product basket has been enhanced by more than 1700 drugs and 280 surgical and these medicines are at least 50% cheaper and in some cases up to 80-90% cheaper than the market price of the branded medicines.
Sema lamented that although this concept is quite popular in many parts of the country but in our state, there is no dedicated warehouse in Dimapur and we have to place an order from other states. And also due to the lack of courier service in many districts, they could not avail of this facility, he said.
He encouraged the gathering to create awareness in the minds of the general people that, the cost of the Jan Aushadhi medicines are cheap not due to poor quality but rather for the benefit of the poorer section of the people, as they are tested in National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
Nodal Officer Sr. Specialist Dr. Lozino Peseyie NHAK presented a PowerPoint on the topic ‘Jan Aushadhi Experience of lesser privileged patients’ where she talked about the mission objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and the characteristics of the Jan Aushadhi products. She also talked about ‘generic drug/medicine’ and why generic medicines cost less and give quality assurance on the products.
Earlier, Dr. Vibeituonuo M. Sachu Principal Director H&FW chaired the programme, Mokokchung District bagged best performing Kendras while Managing Director NHAK Dr. Sendimeren Aonok delivered the vote of thanks.
(Shahlong IA Jakhama)
