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Parliamentary Panel recommends DoP to formulate time-bound action plan for JAKs
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Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
April 08 , 2025
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The Parliamentary Panel on Chemicals and Fertilisers has recommended to the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) to formulate a time-bound action plan to expand the Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) ensuring every district has an adequate number of Kendras.
The Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers, in its eighth report on the Demands for Grants for 2025-26 for DoP, noted that even as the DoP has set up around 15,000 JAKs as of January 31, 2025, their distribution across the country remains uneven, especially in the Northeaster States and Union Territories.
Considering India’s large population of over 1.4 billion people, the current total of 15,000 JAKs translates to approximately one Kendra per 93,000 people, which may not be sufficient to meet the healthcare needs, especially in rural and remote areas.
"The Committee finds that there is no clear assessment of the actual number of JAKs required to adequately serve the population, particularly in underserved regions with geographical challenges. Additionally, the absence of a comprehensive expansion strategy for JAKs in such areas suggests the needs for a more proactive approach by the Department," said the panel headed by Member of Parliament Kirti Jha Azad.
A closer examination of the state-wise data reveals that certain regions have a significantly lower number of JAKs, with only 9 in Andaman & Nicobar, 2 in Ladakh, 1 in Lakshadweep, 56 in Manipur, 25 in Meghalaya, 15 in Mizoram, 22 in Nagaland, 12 in Sikkim and 29 in Tripura.
"Given the objective of providing affordable medicines to all, the Committee believes that this distribution pattern needs urgent attention," added the Panel
In light of these observations, the Parliamentary Panel recommended an immediate and structured expansion of the JAK network, with a special focus on states and Union Territories where their presence is minimal.
"The Department should undertake feasibility studies, demand assessments and consultations with stakeholders to determine the optimal number and location of additional Kendras. The Committee urges the Department to formulate a time-bound action plan ensuring that every district has an adequate number of Kendras, taking into account population density, healthcare access and regional challenges," said the Panel.
The Department, in oral submission to the Panel, said that it has opened a total of 7,443 JAKs across the country from 2021-22 to January 31, 2025, with the highest number of JAKs at 3,739 opened during the first ten months of the current fiscal year.
Commenting on the JAKs opened in rural and remote areas of the country, the Department informed the Panel that it has, in coordination with the Ministry of Cooperation, identified Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and other cooperative societies across the country and rural and remote areas. Till January 31, 2025, 719 Kendras have been opened by PACS and other cooperative societies.
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