Bhubaneswar, Feb 11: Odisha has reached a significant milestone with the establishment of 803 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the state, including 21 located on government premises, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

In a written reply to a question raised by BJD MP Sulata Deo, Patel confirmed that these centers have been fully operational as of December 12, 2025. However, she noted that the state government has not yet submitted any proposals for setting up mobile Jan Aushadhi Vans.

Patel further explained that, according to Rule 64 of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the accompanying Rules of 1945, retail licenses for the sale of drugs are only granted to fixed premises that meet certain infrastructure and storage requirements, including cold chain systems for life-saving medicines. As a result, the current regulations do not allow for the issuance of licenses to mobile units.