With the aim to reduce the expenditure incurred by common patients on treatment of cancer and heart diseases, the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda inaugurated the Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlet at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi on Friday. The AMRIT retail outlets will sell drugs at highly discounted rates. These outlets have a very comprehensive list of medicines that are available across range of products.
He further said, “more than 195 drugs for treatment of Cancer and 186 drugs for treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases are being sold through AMRIT with a discount of more than 90% are available to patients. We are planning to open 300 outlets in the country."
The project has been floated in a tie-up with government-owned HLL Lifecare Ltd (HLL) which is mandated to establish and run the AMRIT chain of pharmacies across the country. M/s.HLL has informed that the value of drugs dispensed (till 30th May) from seven outlets is around Rs.7.00 crores while the MRP for the same was Rs.20.00 crores.
“We are exploring the possibility of scaling up the facility and also making it accessible to larger number of people in various parts of the country. The State Governments have been informed about the AMRIT pharmacies and have been advised to consider opening such pharmacies,” The Health Minister mentioned.
