Six Suppliers Barred for Non-Compliance with Quality Standards
the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the central body that regulates drug supply to Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs), has blacklisted six pharmaceutical suppliers over the last five years for failure to meet the prescribed quality standards. In this context, it will be a safe and high-quality medicine for all.

Who are the blacklisted suppliers?
Union Minister Anupriya Patel reveals that the following have been banned on account of quality issues:

• ANG Life Science India

• Combitic Global Caplet

• Ridley Life Science

• Kamal Healthcare Products

• Cosmos Research Lab.

• Athens Life Sciences

Ensuring Quality by WHO-GMP Certification:
PMBI is also responsible for quality control measures to maintain public confidence:

• Medicines are sourced from only WHO-GMP-approved suppliers.

• Every batch is tested stringently in NABL accredited laboratories before distribution to JAKs.

This ensures that only high-quality medicines reach the over 10,000 JAKs nationwide, making essential healthcare affordable and accessible.

Sanjivani Jan Aushadhi Kendras: National Level
In keeping with the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, the JAKs have registered phenomenal growth:

• 10,404 Kendras opened since 2019, with Uttar Pradesh leading with 1,888 Kendras, followed by Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.

• By March 2027, the government is looking to cover 25,000 Kendras.

Advanced Supply Chain for Accessible Medicine:
PM has employed modern tools to properly supply to JAKs:

Five Warehouses: Located at Gurugram and Chennai, Guwahati, Bengaluru and Surat, with SAP-based inventory systems.
Distributor network: 36 distributors across the country, supplied directly to Karnataka through Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Hubli.
Point-of-Sale (PoS) App: A user-friendly application to ensure that the Kendra owners track and order medicines in time.

Why This Matters to Pharmacists

Compliance as Priority: Pharmacists must ensure their suppliers meet stringent quality checks to avoid reputational damage and legal consequences.
Increased Accountability: With PMBI adopting stricter measures, checking the inventory and supplier's reliability has become crucial for all stakeholders.
 Customer Trust: The quality medicine supplied boost customer trust as well as relations within the community.

The Road Ahead:
PMBI is carrying forward the agenda of changing healthcare access. PMBI has planned to open 25,000 JAKs in 2027. The step to blacklist suppliers can further ensure protection of public health and greater reliability on Jan Aushadhi Kendras to make affordable medicine accessible.