Despite claims of Chhattisgarh Health Services, the Central Government’s drive to promote generic medicines at cheaper rates under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) encounters a major obstacle-shortage of stores across State. In Chhattisgarh, there is a huge disparity in between population density and the availability of generic medicine outlets: Janaushadhi Kendras. Owing to this inequality, a large number of people in various parts of State are unable to avail these affordable generic medicines and are still forced to buy expensive branded medicines from private medical stores.

 

According to the data of Chhattisgarh Health Services, there a total of over 15,860 Janaushadhi Kendras established throughout the country till February 2026 and out of them, Chhattisgarh accounts for 352 centres or kendras. When considering the current population of estimated 3.3 crore, this indicates that there is only one Janaushadhi Kendras for every 89,205 residents in State. In some of the districts in Bilaspur and Surguja divisions, one Janaushadhi Kendra covers the population of over 1 lakh people. This issue is very serious in Chhattisgarh, as in entire country, one Janaushadhi Kendra covers 45,000 population and in southern states such as Kerala as well as Tamil Nadu, one Janaushadhi Kendra covers 30,000 population.

 

Thus, the availability of one centre for around 90,000 people in state is a matter of concern and health department of the state should open more such stores through the help of union ministry of health and family welfare. Generic medicines are unbranded versions of pharmaceutical drugs, with the same active ingredients and efficacy as brand-name drugs but at a lower cost. It is learnt that medical expenses are major financial issues in households of both rural and urban parts and giving a huge financial burden to the families. To address the issue, the central government has introduced PMBJKs in 2018 to enhance generic medicine access and reduce costs by up to 70 per cent.

 

Dr Atri Chakaraborty, Health Activist said that there should be at least one generic medicine center for 5000 people. But in last five years, not so many generic medicine stores were opened at state as compared to other states she added. In districts such as Surajpur, Balrampur, Jashpur, Mungeli, Bemetara and Kanker districts, the number of Janaushadhi Kendra is very low and here one centre is available to cover over 1 lakh population. When contacted Dr Dharmendra Gahwi, Deputy Director of Ayushman and PMBJK stated that, department is in process to open more such stores in several districts of the state to provide medicines at cheaper rates.