Aruchal becomes first state in NE to launch JAS

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, Sept 12: Aruchal Pradesh today earned the distinction of the first state in North East to launch Jan Aushadhi Store (JAS), under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yoja (PMJAY), a mission mode scheme of the Centre) to provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices to the masses.

The mission mode scheme to be implemented in two phases was formally launched by Union Minister of State for Chemical & Fertilizers, Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Mansukh L Mandaviya in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and representatives of Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) and state government officials.

Congratulating Khandu for launching the JAS in Tomo Riba State Hospital at harlagun, the union minister said that the Centre was committed to develop East and West parts of the country equally without any discrimition.

“No state will be allowed to remain poor and the Centre will extend need-based hgelp to expedite their development,” Mandaviya said adding the Prime Minister rendra Modi had directed all the ministers to tour North East to assess development and submit report to facilitate development.

Out of the total 84 proposed JASs in the state, six general hospitals and 14 district hospitals would be covered in the first phase while, in the second phase, 64 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) would be covered by December next year.

 The minister further stated that NGOs and young pharmacists could also open such stores to get employment and urged the state government to expedite the process.

Terming Aruchal as a strategic border state, the union minister informed that the Centre had sanctioned road project worth 8,500 crore and the sought the state government’s support in expediting land acquisition process.

“In five years we want to build one lakh kilometres tiol Highways in the country and don’t want NE, particularly Aruchal to remain behind,” he emphatically said and announced all support to the state. Referring to the 311 km Nechiphu-Hoj and 400 km Potin-Panging portion of the Trans Aruchal Highway, which are yet to be started, the minister urged the state government to remove all the glitches relating to the two all important roads.

In his address Khandu while appreciating the Prime Minister for launching the scheme asserted that the state government would ensure all support in running the JASs successfully.

The chief minister, who also holds the Health portfolio, termed the scheme as ‘god sent and timely’ scheme for the people of the state who always go outside the state for better health care services.

“The scheme should also benefit the NGOs working in the field,” Khandu said adding, the health is a challenging sector for a poor state like Aruchal and urged the Centre to sanction more health schemes for the state.

Chief Secretary Shakuntala Doley Gamlin in her address said that the state would greatly benefit from the scheme which would facilitate to make medicines available at door steps of the people.

“The union budget of one lakh crore for the health sector is minimal,” she pointed out and added that the central scheme would make quality and life saving drugs available to the poor at affordable prices throughout the country.

Earlier, BPPI director Sunil Sharma in a power point presentation explained in detail about the scheme and its benefits.

The union minister would visit Ziro in Lower Subansiri district tomorrow to launch the second JAS in the state.

            On the occasion, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Centre represented by BPPI Director Sunil Sharma and the state government represented by Rogi Kalyan Samiti director Dr R D Khrimey in presence of Director of Health Services Dr Moji Jini.

‘Jan Aushadhi’ is a campaign launched by the department of Pharmaceuticals under the union ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in association with BPPI to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses.

The generic medicines for Jan Ausadhi scheme would be procured from CPSUs and number of private suppliers and tested under BL certifications to maintain efficacy, safety and quality of drugs supplied, the communiqué said.

The sole objective of BPPI is to make available almost all therapeutic medicines in Jan Ausadhi stores.

Currently there are 361 drugs covering all categories of medicines.