Union Health Minister JP Nadda Expands AMRIT Pharmacy Network: 10 New Centers to Provide Affordable Medicines Across India

The new AMRIT pharmacy centers will commence operations at PGI Neuroscience Centre in Chandigarh

New Delhi:

On Saturday, the Union government inaugurated 10 additional AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) pharmacies to enhance access to cost-effective medications and bolster healthcare services across India.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda officially unveiled these pharmacies during a ceremony in the national capital celebrating the program's 10th anniversary.

"Since its inception in 2015, the AMRIT network has expanded to over 255 outlets spanning 24 States and four Union Territories," Nadda remarked, expressing satisfaction regarding AMRIT's decade-long journey in making quality medicines affordable and accessible throughout the country.

The newly established centers will begin functioning at PGI Neuroscience Centre in Chandigarh, GMCH Unit-II in Jammu, State Cancer Institute in Jammu, AIIMS Deogarh, Dental Hospital Srinagar, SCTIMST in Trivandrum, Mumbai Port Trust, IIT Jodhpur, AIIMS Gorakhpur, and AIIMS Kalyani Unit 3.

"In 2014, our government introduced AMRIT and Jan Aushadi Centres with the objective of providing accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare facilities to all citizens in India," stated Nadda.

"These centers provide essential medicines and cover specialized treatments ranging from oncology to cardiac care, orthopedic care, and specialized interventions for both medicines and medical devices," he further explained.

These outlets supply essential medicines, life-saving drugs, and medical devices at substantially reduced prices, frequently up to 50 percent below the maximum retail price (MRP).

The Minister praised the "50 percent discount offered on branded medicines covering oncology, cardiology, orthopedics and endocrinology at AMRIT, without compromising on quality" as commendable.

More than 6,500 drugs and medical products are currently available through this network, providing benefits to over 6.85 crore patients nationwide.

"To date, over 17,000 crore medicines have been dispensed through these outlets. Cumulative patient savings have reached more than Rs 8,500 crore," he added.

AMRIT pharmacies now operate on all AIIMS campuses and other nationally important institutes across India.

Nadda also urged HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL), a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, "to double the number of AMRIT outlets to at least 500".

"All private, government medical colleges, and District Hospitals must have AMRIT. It must expand rapidly," he emphasized, calling for increased awareness about AMRIT.

During the event, Nadda also launched the upgraded Ecogreen 2.0 digital platform and released a Customised My Stamp with India Post.