THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 10, 2026
Odisha has made steady progress in expanding access to affordable
medicines with the establishment of 803 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the state,
the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. These outlets, set up under the
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, aim to make quality generic
medicines available at significantly lower prices to the public.
Providing details in a written reply, Union Minister of State for
Chemicals and Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, said that as of December 31, 2025, a
total of 803 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened in Odisha, including 21
centres functioning from government premises. The expansion reflects sustained
efforts to strengthen the state’s public health infrastructure and improve the
reach of affordable healthcare, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas.
The Minister clarified that no proposal has been received from the
Government of Odisha for setting up Jan Aushadhi Vans to enhance medicine
access in tribal and flood-prone districts. She further explained that existing
legal provisions do not permit the operation of mobile medicine units. Under
Rule 64 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules,
1945, retail licences for the sale of drugs are granted only for fixed premises
that meet prescribed infrastructure and storage norms.
These norms include strict requirements for proper storage conditions and cold chain maintenance, especially for life-saving drugs. As current regulations do not allow retail licences to be issued to mobile units, Jan Aushadhi Kendras are required to operate from permanent locations that comply with these standards.
