Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Leads G-20 & UNICEF Delegates in a visit to Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Panjim, Goa

During the HWG meeting, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers, along with G-20 delegates from Oman, Japan, Russia, Nigeria, Singapore, Malaysia, and UNICEF and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, visited one Jan Aushadhi Kendra at Governor Pestana Road, Panjim, Goa.

The Minister met with Prabha Menon, the owner of Janaushadhi Kendra, a woman entrepreneur who recounted her experience running the Kendra. The Minister provided an overview of the programme and answered participants' questions on how the initiative works.

A number of attendees expressed a desire to see the programme adopted in their own nations. The government is developing a model for supporting middle-income and low-income countries that have expressed interest in the scheme.

The program's accomplishment was recently highlighted in front of a gathering of Resident Heads of Mission from over 90 nations stationed in Delhi in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. 

During the tour, the Minister also stated that the government does not consider the pharmaceutical sector as a source of revenue, but rather as a source of global public good.

The "Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana" is a popular public welfare scheme implemented by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, that has had a significant impact on the lives of common people by providing quality medicines at affordable prices that are generally 50%-90% less expensive than branded medicines.

The three-day meeting is being attended by the UAE, Vietnam, and international organizations such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, International Labour Organization, FSB, OECD, Chairs of Regional Organizations AU, AUDA-NEPAD, ASEAN, and Special Invitees by India, namely the International Solar Alliance, CDR, and Asian Development Bank.