Indian Railways To Set Up Over 100 Affordable Medicine Outlets At Stations
Indian Railways To Set Over 100 PMBJKs At Railway Stations. (Representational Image)
Indian Railways plans to set up over 100 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) at railway stations to improve passenger facilities.
These centers, operated by licensees, will offer quality medicines and products at affordable rates.
Starting from August 2023, Indian Railways began working on this initiative to boost the well-being of passengers. Initially, 50 stations were chosen for the pilot project, which started operating in March this year.
According to Business Today, a senior railway official mentioned, “We’re allocating an additional 61 PMBJKs across the country, each costing Rs 12.53 lakh, with pre-fabrication structures.”
This move aims to meet the medical needs of millions of daily visitors. The scheme ensures easy access to Janaushadhi products, promoting wellness and providing employment opportunities.
Under the scheme, PMBJKs are considered a vital passenger amenity. The railways provide fabricated outlets in convenient locations within stations, benefiting both incoming and outgoing passengers.
To operate these outlets, successful bidders must obtain necessary permissions and licenses from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) and comply with statutory requirements for drug storage.
Before starting operations, PMBJK outlet owners will sign agreements with the nodal agency and authorized distributors of the Janaushadhi Scheme.