Jan Aushadhi Kendra at IMDH Mokokchung awarded at Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023

Mokokchung Times News | 22 March

In recognition of outstanding accomplishment in the state of Nagaland, the Jan Aushadhi Kendra at the Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH), Mokokchung was awarded the ‘Jan Aushadhi Sarvashrestha 2022-2023’ by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, GoI for “Highest sale by a Jan Aushadhi Kendra” in the state of Nagaland on 7 March at the Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023.

Jan Aushadhi Diwas is observed in India on 7 March every year to commemorate the success of the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) campaign and to further promote the use of generic medicine among the masses. The day is the culmination of a week-long event that begins on 1 March. The day is marked in order to promote awareness about generic medicines and how they can be helpful for millions across the country.

According to Lulenmayang, who is a pharmacist and also runs the Jan Aushadhi Kendra at IMDH Mokokchung, the state government on 7 March had recognized the store as the best performing Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra in the state during the period of 2022-2023 and much to his surprise, the central government had also recognized the Kendra at IMDH Mokokchung, the certificates of which he received on Tuesday, 21 March.

Jan Aushadhi is a flagship scheme of the government of India that provides high quality generic medicine at affordable prices through a network of dedicated Jan Aushadhi stores.
The Jan Aushadhi store has been running at Mokokchung’s IMDH for the past 6-7 years, Mayang said. Initially launched in all districts of Nagaland, the Mokokchung store is now the “lone survivor” in the state that remains open and provides the actual generic medicine intended for the scheme, he said.

Mayang recalls how in the initial years, the revenue generated for a whole year was as low as 2-3 thousand rupees. He said that since the medicines were priced at such a low rate, the public didn’t trust the products. The public must have thought that the medicines were of substandard quality, he said. “We have a tendency to think that, the more expensive the medicine, the better it will be,” he added.

But now the response has become really good, according to him. “The overall transactions for this year (August 2022-September 2023) have already reached Rs 27 lakhs till now; we are targeting a total of 40 lakhs with a few months left in this year,” he said.

Jan Aushadhi is a noble initiative that aims to provide affordable and quality medicines to everyone, irrespective of their socio-economic background. It has positively changed many people’s lives who can now access medicines without burning a hole in their pockets. For many diseases, especially chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes, the cost of treatment has decreased, Mayang said.

There are customers even from Kohima and Dimapur who are purchasing their medicine in bulk from the Jan Aushadhi store at IMDH, Mokokchung.
The campaign has also benefited the PHCs and CHCs in the district by reducing their expenses with regards to medicine.

Meanwhile, Mayang said that the revenue from the Jan Aushadhi store which is 20% of the total sales is utilized for a greater good. He said that the proceeds are used for the ‘poor patients’ fund’ as well as other developmental works in the hospital.

Mokokchung Times