A Study of the People's Medicine Scheme in Mumbai and Thane region, India with Reference to Cancer and Diabetes Medicines

Medicine Scheme for Cancer and Diabetes

Abstract

Background: In India, availability of low cost generic drugs to reduce out-of-pocket expenditures on medicines by households has been a challenge over the decades. To address this issue, the Government of India revamped the existing Jan Aushadhi Scheme (JAS) launched in 2008  as Prime Minister’s Peoples Medicine Scheme in 2014.   Objectives: This study  analyses the cost difference of cancer and diabetes medicines under the scheme with its branded counterpart as well as issues related to availability of these medicines in western India.  Methodology:  It’s a cross-sectional study. Telephonic interviews and email correspondence with pharmacists of JAS stores in Mumbai and Thane region. Secondary data from JAS and Medguide India websites has been analysed. Primary data was collected  to study the availability of medicines in these stores. Percentage difference, average and standard deviation have been computed.  Findings: The findings showed that some medicines for both cancer and diabetes listed under the scheme are available at a cheaper rate in the branded market. Also, prices were not found to be uniform in all JAS stores and supply of cancer medicines was found to be poor.   Conclusions: This study highlights the need for a more effective procurement process under the scheme to bring down medicine prices and increase their availability. Price discrepancy for some of the medicines in JAS stores is also a matter of concern. Visibility of these stores needs to be increased to create awareness for accessing these low-cost medicines.  Recommendation: This study has four recommendations for a more effective impact of this scheme to reduce the OOP expenditure on medicines in India.