A Jan Aushadhi Kendra was inaugurated at the Sri Sri Pitambar Dev Goswami District Hospital in Majuli, Assam, on Monday, 17 August 2026, giving residents of the island district access to more than 2,100 generic medicines at discounts ranging from 50% to 90% off branded prices. The centre operates under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), a central government scheme aimed at making quality medicines affordable for all.

Inauguration and Key Developments

Majuli MLA Bhuban Gam formally opened the centre by cutting the ribbon, addressing the gathering of doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and local residents. In his inaugural remarks, Gam urged residents to take full advantage of the facility, noting that all essential medicines of good quality would now be available at significantly reduced prices.

Dr Kishore Kumar Kaman, Joint Director of the programme, confirmed that the Kendra would stock more than 2,100 different generic medicines of verified quality, available from the day of inauguration itself.

What the Centre Offers

The product basket at the Kendra covers 2,110 medicines and 315 surgical items, medical consumables, and devices across all major therapeutic categories. These include cardiovascular, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-infective, anti-allergic, and gastro-intestinal medicines, as well as nutraceuticals — covering the full spectrum of common and critical health needs.

Medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras are priced at a fraction of their branded equivalents, making them particularly significant for lower-income households and patients managing chronic conditions.

National Scale of the PMBJP

Majuli's new Kendra is part of a rapidly expanding national network. As of 30 July 2026, a total of 20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across the country under the PMBJP. According to government estimates, the scheme has generated cumulative savings of approximately ₹45,000 crore for citizens over the past 12 years, as generic medicines are priced far below their branded counterparts.

This comes amid a broader push by the Centre to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, which remains one of the leading causes of household debt in rural India.

Local Significance for Majuli

Majuli, a river island in the Brahmaputra and one of the largest inhabited river islands in the world, has historically faced challenges in healthcare access due to its geography. The opening of the Kendra directly at the district hospital premises is seen as a meaningful step toward bridging that gap. Local residents and those from surrounding areas have welcomed the development, with many expressing relief at the prospect of affordable life-saving drugs being available close to home.

With the Kendra now operational, the focus shifts to ensuring consistent medicine supply and community awareness — factors that have determined the effectiveness of similar centres elsewhere in the country.