By Dr. Shamin Eabenson
India has made remarkable progress in expanding access to affordable healthcare through the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). With thousands of Jan Aushadhi Kendras operating across the country and generic medicines available at significantly lower prices, the initiative has emerged as one of India’s most significant healthcare reforms.
However, recent research among medical students in North Karnataka highlights an important reality—while affordability has improved, public trust and awareness still have a long way to go.
Healthcare is not measured merely by the availability of medicines. It is measured by whether people are willing to use them with confidence. Generic medicines have consistently demonstrated their ability to reduce treatment costs, yet many patients continue to associate higher prices with better quality. This perception remains one of the biggest barriers to achieving universal access to affordable healthcare.
The findings of the study are encouraging in several respects. More than three-fourths of the participating medical students were aware of generic medicines, while over 81 percent believed that generic medicines are less expensive than branded alternatives.
Nearly 85 percent also agreed that wider use of generic medicines can substantially reduce the financial burden of healthcare on Indian families. These responses indicate that future doctors understand the economic importance of affordable medicines.
Yet awareness alone is not enough.
A considerable number of students remained uncertain about the effectiveness and quality of generic medicines. Many had never requested their doctors to prescribe Jan Aushadhi medicines, despite recognizing their affordability. Such findings reveal that confidence in generic medicines is still evolving—even among future healthcare professionals.
Another important observation from the study is that many participants were unaware of the availability of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in their own localities. If medical students, who are closely connected with the healthcare system, face this information gap, it is reasonable to expect that awareness among the general public may be even lower. Accessibility is not merely about opening more centres; it is also about ensuring that citizens know where these facilities exist and why they should trust them.
The success of the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana should therefore be evaluated not only by the number of Kendras established but also by the confidence it generates among doctors, pharmacists, and patients. Public health initiatives achieve their true purpose only when scientific evidence translates into public trust.
Medical education has a vital role to play in this transformation. Future doctors must receive comprehensive exposure to the science, regulation, and quality assurance behind generic medicines.
Educational institutions should integrate practical discussions on generic prescribing, while healthcare authorities should continue strengthening public awareness campaigns that explain the rigorous quality standards followed before medicines reach Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Scientific evidence must become the foundation of public confidence.
The study also presents an interesting policy perspective. While a majority supported the availability of Jan Aushadhi stores in every hospital, opinions were divided on making generic prescriptions legally mandatory. This reflects an important lesson for policymakers. Sustainable healthcare reforms are driven by education, transparency, and professional confidence rather than compulsion alone.
India has taken an extraordinary step toward affordable healthcare through the Jan Aushadhi movement. Millions of families already benefit from lower medicine costs, but the next phase of this journey requires building stronger awareness and greater confidence among both healthcare professionals and the public.
Affordable medicines can transform lives, but only when people trust them enough to choose them. The future of Jan Aushadhi, therefore, lies not only in expanding its reach but also in strengthening the confidence that accompanies every prescription.
