Indian government plans to modernize high performing generic medicine pharmacies

The Indian government plans to upgrade its best performing Jan Aushadhi Kendras into modern flagship outlets to improve medicine availability and service standards.

The Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) proposed the overhaul to create benchmark establishments. These flagship stores will receive priority supplies for the top 400 medicines, digital promotional screens, and branding materials. The government will select stores based on their sales growth and location, specifically targeting areas near hospitals and other high traffic medical centers.

To qualify for the upgrade, pharmacies must meet specific monthly turnover benchmarks based on their location. Stores in metros must earn ₹10 lakh, while those in non-metro cities with over one million people must earn ₹7.5 lakh. Pharmacies in other urban centers need a turnover of ₹3 lakh. The government stated that it cannot upgrade every store because some do not meet the necessary sales volume.

The initiative supports a broader goal to increase the number of operational stores to 25,000 by March 2027. Officials say these modern outlets will demonstrate best practices in stock management and customer service to encourage neighboring stores to improve. Public health experts say the move will help deliver affordable generic medicines to communities that need them most.