AMRIT centers soon to be a reality in Jammu MoU to be signed this month

ARVIND SHARMA

JAMMU: Finally, after the passage of more than 4 years since the launch of scheme for providing cheaper medicines and implants to the patients, decks have been cleared for opening Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) centers in various hospitals of Jammu region.
Reliable sources in the health department informed The News Now that union health ministry has accorded sanction to the proposal sent by state health department for opening AMRIT centers in different hospitals of Jammu region, including the premier Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), Jammu.
In Jammu, AMRIT centers will be opened at GMC&H, high-tech Super Specialty Hospital (SSH), SMGS Hospital, region’s premier maternity and paediatric hospital and Dental Hospital, sources informed.
“The state health department had sent a complete report to the union health ministry regarding sanctioned bed strength of different hospitals of Jammu requesting that AMRIT centers be set up in these hospitals at the spots mentioned in the report as identified by the department,” sources informed.
After the proposal sent by the state health department, the team of union health ministry visited different hospitals of Jammu and prepared a report of each hospital as per patient intake capacity and requirement of each hospital for opening AMRIT centers, sources informed.
“The union health ministry has now accorded sanction to the proposal and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for opening AMRIT centers in the hospitals mentioned in the report will be signed with union health ministry by the end of this month,” Medical Superintendent, GMC, Jammu, Dr Dara Singh confirmed The News Now when contacted.
The central government’s flagship health scheme, AMRIT to provide affordable and cheaper health services to the common masses had failed to take off in J&K as AMRIT centers had not been opened in hospitals of the state despite the passage of more than 4 years since the launch of scheme.
As part of the AMRIT scheme, retail outlets are to be opened in hospitals which will sell drugs and implants to the patients suffering from cancer and heart diseases at highly discounted rates.
Sources informed that the patients, intending to avail health services under Ayushman Bharat are the worst sufferers to due non-availability of AMRIT centers in JK hospitals.
“They are not getting medicines and implants required for surgery and for cancer,” sources informed. In AMRIT centers, if opened, the patients could get medicines and implants at very high discounts 24X7 but due to non-availability of these centers, the patients, especially, that of Ayushman Bharat, have been facing the brunt.
Under the programme, the AMRIT pharmacy would be selling 202 cancer and 186 cardio-vascular drugs, and 148 types of cardiac implants at very affordable prices. Patients can buy medicines and implants at 50 to 60 percent cheaper prices than the open market from AMRIT outlets.
The project was floated in a tie-up with government-owned HLL Lifecare Ltd (HLL) which is deputed to establish and run the AMRIT chain of pharmacies across the country.
Sources informed that 11 AMRIT centers were to be opened in different hospitals of the state, including 4 in Jammu, 5 in Kashmir and 2 Leh.
However, not even a single center has been opened in any of the state’s hospital so far.

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