The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana medicine catalogue covers medicines across dozens of therapeutic categories, including a dedicated oncology section with oral chemotherapy, hormonal agents, and supportive care drugs.
Cancer Medicines at Jan Aushadhi: — What Is on the List and How to Get It
Many families do not know that government Jan Aushadhi stores stock oral cancer medicines — including chemotherapy tablets and hormonal treatments — at prices set well below the branded market rate. This page explains what is available, who can use these stores, and what you need to bring.
- Cancer drugs are included — Jan Aushadhi stores stock oral chemotherapy tablets, hormonal treatments, and supportive drugs.
- Prices are set by the government — The Department of Pharmaceuticals sets prices substantially lower than branded equivalents.
- A prescription is required — You need a valid prescription from a registered oncologist. The store cannot dispense without it.
- Injectables are different — IV chemotherapy is given at hospital, not dispensed at any pharmacy counter.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
Yes, Jan Aushadhi stores do stock cancer medicines. The scheme covers oral chemotherapy tablets, hormonal treatments, and supportive drugs at prices set by the Government of India — substantially lower than branded equivalents. You need a valid prescription from a registered oncologist, and you can only collect what your treating team has prescribed.
How does Jan Aushadhi compare to a private pharmacy for cancer medicines?
| Jan Aushadhi Kendra (PMBJP) | Private / brand-name pharmacy | |
|---|---|---|
| Who sets the price | Government of India, Department of Pharmaceuticals | The branded manufacturer (subject to NPPA price caps) |
| Price level | 50–90% lower than branded MRP for most listed medicines (PMBJP, 2024) | Full branded MRP |
| Quality assurance | Sourced from CDSCO-approved manufacturers; independently tested at government-accredited laboratories | Manufacturer quality; CDSCO approval required by law |
| Prescription required | Yes — written in the generic medicine name | Yes — brand or generic name accepted |
| Cancer drugs stocked | Oral chemotherapy tablets, hormonal agents, supportive drugs, select oral targeted therapies | Wider range; injectables supplied separately by hospitals |
| How to locate | Store locator at janaushadhi.gov.in | Private medical stores near your treatment centre |
Which cancer medicines can you get at a Jan Aushadhi store?
The PMBJP medicine list includes a range of oral oncology medicines. Hormonal therapies used in breast and prostate cancer are well represented. A number of oral chemotherapy tablets are listed. Some oral targeted therapies are also included.
Medicines for supportive care during cancer treatment — managing nausea, pain, and infection — are part of the catalogue too. The full, current list is published at janaushadhi.gov.in and is updated periodically as new medicines are added.
What Jan Aushadhi does not cover is intravenous chemotherapy. Drugs given as a drip or injection at your oncology centre are supplied by that hospital and are never dispensed across a retail counter, whether at Jan Aushadhi or anywhere else.
When is Jan Aushadhi not the right option for your cancer medicines?
Jan Aushadhi Kendras are not a substitute for hospital-based cancer treatment. These groups of patients will not be able to use this route for their main cancer medicines:
- Patients whose chemotherapy is given as an intravenous infusion. These drugs are administered under medical supervision at a hospital or day-care centre and cannot be dispensed at any pharmacy counter.
- Patients whose cancer medicine is not on the current PMBJP approved list. Many newer targeted therapies and biologics are not yet represented in the catalogue.
- Patients in areas where the local Jan Aushadhi Kendra does not have the specific medicine in stock. Availability varies between stores, and not every medicine on the list is in every store.
- Patients whose oncologist has specified a particular formulation for a clinical reason. That decision should not be changed without discussing it with your treating team first.
Whether a Jan Aushadhi medicine is appropriate in your situation is a clinical decision made by your oncologist — not one to take independently at the pharmacy counter.
What do these terms mean?
- PMBJP
- Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana — the Government of India scheme that funds and runs the Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Operated by the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
- Jan Aushadhi Kendra
- A dedicated government pharmacy that sells only PMBJP-listed generic medicines at regulated prices. They do not sell branded products alongside generic ones.
- Generic medicine
- A medicine that contains the same active ingredient, at the same dose, as the original branded version. The name on the label is the molecule name, not a company's brand. CDSCO approval is required before any generic can be sold in India.
- CDSCO
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation — India's national drug regulator. It approves every medicine, branded or generic, before it can be manufactured and sold. All Jan Aushadhi suppliers must hold CDSCO approval.
- MRP
- Maximum Retail Price — the highest price at which a medicine can legally be sold in India. The price you see on Jan Aushadhi packaging is typically a fraction of the MRP printed on the equivalent branded box.
How do you use a Jan Aushadhi store for your cancer treatment?
Ask your oncologist to write the prescription in the generic molecule name rather than a brand name. Jan Aushadhi stores dispense against the generic name, and some stores may not accept a prescription written as a brand.
Find your nearest Kendra using the store locator at janaushadhi.gov.in. Stock varies between stores, so it is worth calling ahead to confirm your specific medicine is available before you make the trip.
Tell your oncologist you are planning to collect from Jan Aushadhi. They can confirm whether the generic formulation is appropriate for your situation and flag any clinical reason you might need a specific brand instead.
Did you know?
The scheme now operates through more than 10,000 dedicated stores across India — and that number continues to grow each year.
Source: PMBJP, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India (2024)
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Frequently asked questions
Are Jan Aushadhi medicines the same quality as branded ones?
Jan Aushadhi medicines are manufactured by companies that hold CDSCO approval — the same regulatory standard that applies to all medicines sold in India, branded or generic. The PMBJP also conducts independent quality testing at government-accredited laboratories before medicines are accepted into the supply chain. CDSCO approval and independent batch testing are the standards your oncologist and pharmacist use to assess whether a generic medicine is acceptable to dispense.
Which specific cancer drugs are on the Jan Aushadhi list?
The current, authoritative list is published at janaushadhi.gov.in under the medicine catalogue, and it is updated periodically. In general, the oncology section includes hormonal treatments for breast and prostate cancer, some oral chemotherapy tablets, select oral targeted therapies, and supportive medicines for nausea, pain, and infection. Injectable chemotherapy is not on the list, because it requires hospital administration and cannot be dispensed at a pharmacy counter.
Can I get my chemotherapy injections at a Jan Aushadhi store?
No. Intravenous chemotherapy — given as a drip or injection — must be administered under medical supervision at a hospital or oncology day-care centre. It is not dispensed over the counter at any pharmacy, including Jan Aushadhi stores. What Jan Aushadhi Kendras do supply is oral cancer medicines: tablets and capsules prescribed for you to take at home under your oncologist's guidance.
How do I find a Jan Aushadhi store near me?
The official store locator at janaushadhi.gov.in lets you search by city, district, or PIN code. Many hospitals and oncology treatment centres also have a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in or near the same building. Because stock varies between stores, it is worth calling ahead before you travel to confirm that the specific medicine you need is available there.
Can I switch from my current branded medicine to the Jan Aushadhi version?
Speak to your oncologist first. For most standard oral cancer medicines, the active ingredient is the same and the change is medically straightforward. But your oncologist may have chosen a specific formulation for a reason — absorption profile, excipients, or a documented intolerance. That conversation is brief, costs nothing, and protects you from changing something your team has calibrated for your particular situation.
Do I need to be a government hospital patient to use Jan Aushadhi stores?
No. Anyone with a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner can buy medicines at a Jan Aushadhi Kendra. You do not need to be treated at a government facility. Private oncology patients can use these stores for any medicine their specialist has prescribed that appears on the current PMBJP list. The only requirement is a valid prescription naming the generic medicine.
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