Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda has said that with a vision to provide quality medicines at affordable rates for the common man especially the poor, government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras, PMBJKs to 10, 500 by the end of March 2024.<br />'' <br />''The PMBJKs are being set up by Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India, under Department of Pharmaceuticals, the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna, PMBJP.<br />'' <br />''With this, all the districts in the country will have Janaushadhi Kendras. This will ensure easy reach of affordable medicines to the  people in every nook and corner of the country. As on 15th of September, the number of stores in the country increased to 6,603.<br />'' <br />''During the period from March to June this year, due to COVID Pandemic lockdown and thereafter, PMBJK had faced many challenges regarding shortage of API and other raw material of pharmaceuticals and disturbance in supply of medicines to its retail stores from Central and Regional Warehouses due to transportation issues.<br />'' <br />''Keeping this in view and the expansion plan, establishment of an effective IT-enabled logistics and supply-chain system for ensuring real-time distribution of medicines at all outlets is also being chalked out.<br />'' <br />''At present, four warehouses of Janaushadhi Kendras are functional at Gurugram, Chennai, Bengaluru and Guwahati. Further, it is planned to open two more warehouses in Western and Central India.<br />'' <br />''In addition, appointment of Distributors in States and UTs is also being envisioned to strengthen the supply chain system.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">With approved budget of 490 crore rupees for the period 2020-21 to 2024- 25, PMBJP Scheme has drastically brought down the prices of quality medicines and making them available to a large section of population, especially the poor.</span><br />