The doctors at the PGI have continued to prescribe non-generic medicines despite the Jan Aushadhi Scheme (JAS) launched by the government of India offering cheaper drugs. Prescribed non-generic drugs are often unavailable at these centers, aggravating the plight of patients who have to visit private drug stores in and around the campus to procure the medicines. On September 1, five deaths were reported at the institute following the use of an anesthetic procured from a private chemist on the campus.

As per the government scheme, the PGI campus has Amrit (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) pharmacies and Jan Aushadhi stores, but the doctors left no option for their patients but to buy medicines from private pharmacies due to the non-availability of medicines at the subsidized stores. In 2017, the Health Department asked doctors to prescribe only generic medicines on their prescription cards to end the cozy nexus between doctors and pharmacies. On the other hand, some doctors from the PGI claimed generic drugs are of poor quality and do not have the required components for effective treatment, thus prescribing non-generic drugs. A PGI medical staff member added that to benefit patients, the government should intervene and cap the price of essential drugs by including branded medications on the list. A patient stated that his mother underwent surgery to remove her kidney last week and he had to purchase surgical items from a private chemist for Rs 3,000 as some of the items were not available at Amrit Pharmacy.

There are seven Amrit Pharmacies, two Jan Aushadhi stores, and four private chemist shops on the PGI campus. Six more private chemist shops are currently vacant and not in use at the PGI. The Amrit Pharmacy offers drugs, implants, surgical disposables, and other consumables at an average discount of up to 60% of the MRP. Another doctor from PGI added that there is no denying the fact that some doctors prescribe branded medicines available at a particular pharmacy only, but a robust mechanism is needed to ensure patients get drugs at affordable rates at Amrit Pharmacies itself. He further stated that the PGI drug committee selects 6-7 brands of quality drugs and ensures that only those drugs are stocked by pharmacies.