BOOK CHAPTER: PROMOTING ACCESS OF AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE-JANAUSHADHI AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Praveen Kumar Gupta, *Preeti Singh, Gunjan Singh, Priya Sharma

The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana is trying to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras in each and every corner of India so that the person gets quality drugs at a low price. The generic drugs issued are nearly half the rate of the branded ones but with the same quality and efficacy. Despite all this, the people know very little about Jan Aushadhi Kendras and mostly in rural and semi-urban areas. This study deals with the current knowledge being held by different demographic groups, such as patients, healthcare providers, and rural and urban dwellers about Jan Aushadhi Kendras. It explores the reasons behind poor awareness: inappropriate advertisement, limited accessibility, and myths about the quality of generic drugs. The study also encompasses more awareness in terms of health-care accessibility and costs, and how these Kendras would be able to help vulnerable people by relieving them of their financial burden towards medical expenses. Findings indicate that for an increase in the usage of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, organized awareness programs and better community engagement are to be combined with partnerships between these centers and providers. An active role must be found by the government and the nongovernmental organizations in improving the infrastructure of such centers and spreading the word. Jan Aushadhi Kendras could be the booster in order to facilitate universal healthcare in India as the centers would increase public awareness and enhance greater confidence in generic drugs.