Access to affordable generic medicines is set to become easier in big cities as the government has relaxed the distance rule for opening Janaushadhi centres. Until now these outlets, which sell quality medicines at low prices, had to maintain a minimum distance from each other. The new policy removes that requirement for metropolitan areas and cities with populations above ten lakh, allowing more shops to open in every street and neighbourhood.
The change applies to major metropolitan centres including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. It also covers 46 million‑plus cities such as Pune, Surat, Nagpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Guwahati, Patna, Indore and Bhopal. Residents in these cities will no longer have to travel far or stand in long queues to obtain quality generic medicines.
Janaushadhi centres sell medicines at discounts of up to 90 per cent compared with branded drugs. There were only 80 such outlets across India in 2014, but by 30 June 2025 the number had grown to 16,912. The government plans to increase the network to 25,000 centres by 2027. Each store can stock up to 2,047 different types of medicines and offers a range of essential healthcare products.
Relaxing the distance requirement is part of a broader effort to make essential medicines widely available. The scheme is especially helpful in densely populated urban areas where demand is high and many residents struggle with rising healthcare costs. In addition to urban centres, the programme continues to expand in smaller towns to ensure rural populations also benefit from affordable generic drugs.
Health officials say that the easier licensing norms will encourage entrepreneurs and pharmacies to open new Janaushadhi outlets. As more centres come online, patients should find it simpler to access common medications near their homes. The move is a significant step towards reducing out‑of‑pocket expenditure on healthcare and promoting the use of generic medicines across India.
- Government removes distance requirement for Janaushadhi centres in metropolitan and million‑plus cities.
- The change applies to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and 46 other large cities.
- Janaushadhi outlets offer medicines up to 90% cheaper; numbers have grown from 80 in 2014 to 16,912 in mid‑2025.
- The network aims to reach 25,000 centres by 2027 and stocks over 2,000 types of medicines.
- Relaxed rules are expected to increase access to affordable drugs and reduce healthcare costs for urban residents.
Content first published on delhibreakings.com
