It takes a village to raise a child, goes the old adage. But the arrival of a newborn also brings a new set of responsibilities and expenses for families, from diapers and wipes to doctor visits, medicines and other essential healthcare needs.
While medicines constitute a significant part of healthcare spending, they are not the only expense for families with newborns, people recovering from surgery, or elderly and dependent members. In this broader context of affordable healthcare beyond medicines, the government is expanding the reach of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
With a network of more than 20,000 Janaushadhi Kendras across the country, the initiative offers a wide range of affordable surgical and healthcare products, making essential items more accessible to families closer to home.
For young families, the arrival of a child brings a range of everyday needs. Under Janaushadhi Bachpan, baby-care products available at Janaushadhi Kendras include diapers in different sizes and wipes. A pack of 20 baby wipes, for instance, is available for ₹45. The product basket also includes items such as a 250-ml baby feeding bottle, manual breast pump, hot water bag and infant feeding tube.
Postpartum care is another important aspect of maternal health. Adequate rest, support and attention to physical well-being are essential during recovery after childbirth. Abdominal belts are available through the Janaushadhi network for post-delivery care, while cervical pillows, priced at ₹525, provide additional comfort and support during pregnancy and beyond.
As children grow, their healthcare needs also change. Respiratory conditions and other health issues may require supportive equipment at home, making affordable healthcare devices important for families. Janaushadhi Kendras offer electrical nebulizer machines priced at ₹937.50 and child nebulizer masks with tubing priced at ₹200.
The network also provides products that support regular health monitoring and day-to-day healthcare management. Glucometer test strips, with 25 strips priced at ₹500, are available for blood sugar monitoring. Pulse oximeters, which measure blood oxygen saturation, are also part of the medical devices available through Janaushadhi Kendras.
For elderly, dependent or bedridden family members, healthcare extends beyond treatment to include hygiene, comfort, dignity and everyday caregiving. For families managing long-term care, frequently used healthcare products can become recurring expenses, making affordability particularly important.
Recognising this need, the government has introduced Jan Aushadhi Swabhiman, a dedicated range of adult diapers aimed at providing an affordable option for long-term caregiving needs.
From the early days of parenthood and childhood to regular health monitoring and care for ageing family members, healthcare needs evolve throughout life. The Janaushadhi basket of surgicals and consumables seeks to address these requirements by extending affordable healthcare beyond medicines.
The product range is also set to expand, with several healthcare and supportive-care products under process and in the pipeline for inclusion through the network. These include a range-of-motion knee brace, walker with sit-assist-to-stand support, medical steam vaporizer, foot elevator pillow, pregnancy back support belt and cervical collar.
The proposed expansion reflects the government’s efforts to broaden access to affordable healthcare and make essential products for mobility, rehabilitation, recovery and supportive care more widely available to citizens.
