Bhubaneswar: Odisha now has 803 Jan Aushadhi Kendras, including 21 located in government premises, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
In her written reply to a question by BJD MP Sulata Deo, Patel said these Kendras have been operational in the state as of December 12, 2025. She added that the state government has not submitted any proposal for setting up mobile Jan Aushadhi Vans.
The Minister also clarified that, under Rule 64 of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Rules of 1945, retail licenses for drug sale are granted only for fixed premises that meet specific infrastructure and storage norms, including cold chain maintenance for life-saving medicines. Current regulations do not permit issuing licenses to mobile units.
