Health Minister inaugurates AMRIT outlet at Safdarjung Hospital to dispense affordable drugs of cancer, heart diseases and other life style diseases
Posted on 12 Aug, 2016 7:50 pm
Health Minister inaugurates AMRIT outlet at Safdarjung Hospital to dispense affordable drugs of cancer, heart diseases and other life style diseases
AMRIT will reduce the burden of out-of-pocket expenses on patients; lakhs of people will be benefitted: J P Nadda
AMRIT will reduce the burden of out-of-pocket expenses on patients; lakhs of people will be benefitted: J P Nadda
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, here today. 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.
Nine AMRIT Pharmacies have been set up and Safdarjung Hospital is the 10th of this kind, Shri Nadda stated. 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.” Shri Nadda further informed that more than 1.77 lakhs patients have been benefitted till date. This has resulted in saving of around Rs.13.00 crores out of pocket expenditure to the patients which translates into an average discount of 69% on MRP. “We are planning to open 300 outlets in the country. AMRIT pharmacy reflects our strong commitment to reduce the cost of treatment for the patients.,” The Health Minister added.
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.
Also present at the event were HLL Lifecare Limited Chairman and Managing Director Shri R P Khandelwal, along with senior officials from the Health Ministry and Safdarjung Hospital.
Nine AMRIT Pharmacies have been set up and Safdarjung Hospital is the 10th of this kind, Shri Nadda stated. 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.” Shri Nadda further informed that more than 1.77 lakhs patients have been benefitted till date. This has resulted in saving of around Rs.13.00 crores out of pocket expenditure to the patients which translates into an average discount of 69% on MRP. “We are planning to open 300 outlets in the country. AMRIT pharmacy reflects our strong commitment to reduce the cost of treatment for the patients.,” The Health Minister added.
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.
Also present at the event were HLL Lifecare Limited Chairman and Managing Director Shri R P Khandelwal, along with senior officials from the Health Ministry and Safdarjung Hospital.
Courtesy – Press Information Bureau, Government of India