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PGI's AMRIT Pharmacy: Backbone of Affordable Patient Care
30 Mar
Summary
- PGI inaugurates its 14th AMRIT Pharmacy, the most in any public hospital.
- AMRIT ensures affordable medicines, complementing Ayushman Bharat's reach.
- PGI plans more AMRIT outlets, including 24x7 availability in critical areas.
The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) has significantly expanded its Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacy network by inaugurating its 14th outlet. This marks the largest number of such facilities within any public sector hospital across India. Professor Vivek Lal, director of PGI, described the AMRIT initiative as a crucial "backbone" supporting the extensive patient load managed through the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Prof Lal emphasized that AMRIT ensures quality and affordability by providing medicines from reputable companies at substantial discounts. This directly supports the goals of Ayushman Bharat, which facilitates access for a high volume of patients. PGI is also looking to establish two to three more AMRIT outlets to enhance the delivery of affordable medicines, especially in high-load areas like cardiology and emergency services, with plans for 24/7 availability.
The institute is actively addressing operational challenges such as availability gaps and refund timelines, communicating with the ministry for process streamlining. Financial processes have also been improved to support faster procurement and better service delivery, directly benefiting the AMRIT initiative. Future developments include the inauguration of major facilities like the Neurosciences Centre and Critical Care Centre on April 27 by the Union Health Minister, further augmenting PGI's patient care capacity.
