New Delhi: 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, Mr J P Nadda recently inaugurated three Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlets located at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, and All India Institute Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur through video conferencing.
“We have now 12 AMRIT outlets across the country. More than 2141 drugs (including cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, stents, etc.) for treatment of Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases are being sold through AMRIT at a discount of more than 70 percent to the patients,” the Health Minister said. Mr Nadda also stated that the benefits of the AMRIT clinics can be availed by both in-patients as well as out-patients. He further added that about 300 outlets shall be started by the end of this year and basket of choices of drugs shall also be enhanced further.
Mr Nadda informed that the AMRIT clinics have sold drugs worth Rs 28 Crores as per the MRP. However, the costs to the patients through these outlets have only been Rs 9 crores. This has resulted in saving of Rs 19 Crores out of pocket expenditure to the patients.
“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.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that this initiative is going to be a big boost to the healthcare in the region. It will not only go a long way in providing cost-effective medicines to lower strata of the society but through this we will also have a healthcare system that will be more trustworthy.
