10 new AMRIT pharmacy in tertiary care institutions in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu: The Government is planning to open ten more Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) stores in tertiary care institutions of Jammu and Kashmir by the end of April 2020.

Currently, 12 AMRIT stores are operating in Jammu, Srinagar, Kathua, Rajouri and Doda districts of J&K and the first two stores were opened on December 02, 2019, after the approval of State Administrative Council (SAC) in October last year.

So far, 32,387 patients have utilized the facilities at AMRIT stores where drugs, consumables and implants worth Rs 3.95 crore have been sold at discounted rates.

Work is going on to improve the business and availability of drugs and implants in newly inaugurated stores.

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The Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) pharmacies a government initiative — the first of which was opened at AIIMS, Delhi in 2015 — sell expensive drugs such as those used for treating cancer and cardiovascular diseases at a cost that is 30-40 per cent cheaper.

AMRIT is an acronym of Affordable Medicine and Reliable Implants for Treatment-is government-run medical pharmacy where patients can buy all drugs excluding patented drugs on discount rated having the proper medical prescription.

AMRIT Pharmacies are being opened and operated by M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd., a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. AMRIT Pharmacy outlets are generally set up in AIIMS, Government Medical College Hospitals and large District Hospitals which have about 300 beds.

Unlike Jan Aushadhi stores, which are run by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, AMRIT stores do not sell generic versions of the drug but sell branded drugs.

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In a bid to reduce the cost of treatment, the Health Ministry launched 'AMRIT' Retail Pharmacy scheme to provide affordable drugs for cancer and heart diseases.