India To Export Jan Aushadhi Generic Drugs To Mauritius

New Delhi, Jun 6 (KNN) In a move to promote access to affordable medicines globally, the Indian government is preparing to export a range of generic drugs branded as "Jan Aushadhi" to Mauritius.

This initiative follows a recent bilateral meeting between Indian and Mauritian representatives in May, reported News18.

The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme, spearheaded by the Narendra Modi administration, aims to provide generic medicines at prices 50-90 per cent lower than their branded counterparts in the market.

Mauritius has shared a list of 16 therapeutic areas, including cancer, diabetes, antibiotics, neurology, urology, pain management, antifungals, and supplements, based on which the initial stock of drugs is being prepared.

The bilateral discussions also focused on expediting regulatory processes and certifications to establish a fully functional Jan Aushadhi Kendra (retail outlet) in Mauritius.

According to a senior Indian government official, the plan is to initially open a single store managed by the Mauritian government, with India providing the necessary stock as required.

This endeavour is a result of a meeting organised by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which brought together health ministers and representatives from 91 countries to explore collaborative efforts in the healthcare sector.

The public sector undertaking HLL Lifecare has been assigned the responsibility of exporting these medicines to Mauritius.

Indian officials clarified that while this initiative aims to showcase the Jan Aushadhi scheme globally, it does not signify a takeover of the export market by the government from Indian pharmaceutical companies.

The initial quantities being exported are relatively small, valued at less than Rs 10 crore.

In addition to the medicine supply, Mauritius has sought assistance from India in identifying IT experts in the field of health who are willing to work in the country.

The Jan Aushadhi scheme, originally launched as the Jan Aushadhi Yojana by the UPA government in November 2008, was rebranded and relaunched as the PMBJP in 2015 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office.

(KNN Bureau)