India’s Small Industries Development Bank (SIDBI) started a program to help Jan Aushadhi Kendra owners. These centers offer affordable medicines.
The Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, explained that the plan will give loans to these owners without needing any guarantee. More Jan Aushadhi Kendras mean more people can access cheap medicines.
There were 80 centers in 2014, but now there are 11,000. Every day, about 10-12 lakh people buy from these shops.
This program will support Kendra owners to grow their business. The Credit Guarantee Fund Trust will ensure these loans.
These Kendras sell over 1,965 types of medicines and 293 surgical products at low prices. In 2022-23, they made sales worth Rs 1,235.95 crore, saving citizens about Rs 7,416 crore.
Over the past 10 years, people saved more than Rs 28,000 crore by buying from Jan Aushadhi Kendras, according to the government.”
