Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India, BPPI, the implementing agency of Pradhanmantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana-PMBJP, clocked appreciable sales despite the testing time of COVID lockdown. The turnover of BPPI in the first quarter of 2020-21 registered 146.59 crore rupees as compared to 75.48 crore rupees achieved in the first quarter of 2019-20. In the month of July, this year, BPPI have added a sales of 48.66 Crore rupees. The total sales up to 31st July, this year stood at 191.90 Crore rupees.<br />''<br />''The Janaushadhi Kendras remained functional during lockdown and maintained operations as part of their commitment to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential medicines. They  sold about 15 lakhs Face masks, 80 lakhs tablets of Hydroxychloroquine and and 100 lakhs Paracetamol Tablets, which saved around 1260 crore rupees of the citizens. Present basket of medicines sold by these kendras  consists of 1250 medicines and 204 surgical instruments.<br />''<br />'' The target is set to enhance it up to 2000 medicines and 300 surgical products by the end of 31st March 2024 so that all essential medicines covering therapeutic groups, like – Anti Diabetics, Cardiovascular Drugs, Anti-Cancer, Analgesics and Antipyretics, Anti Allergic, Gastro Intestinal Agents, Vitamins, Minerals and Food supplements, Tropical Medicines, etc. <br />''<br />''The cost of Janaushadhi Medicines is cheaper at least by 50 per cent and in some cases, by 80 to 90 per cent of the market price of branded medicines. As per the official data it has provided direct source of sustainable employment for more than 11 thousand 6 hundred educated unemployed youth of the country by engaging them in the scheme.