Shimla, July 1: The Union Ministry for Health has extended benefit of Rs 133.10 crore to 25.33 lakh patients by selling branded medicines at subsidised rates through the Affordable Medicine and Reliable Implant Treatment (AMRIT) scheme.This was stated by Union Minister for Health JP Nadda. He said Affordable Medicine and Reliable Implant Treatment stores that had been opened by the public sector unit of the Union Ministry for Health in the last two years had sold medicines having MRP of Rs 230.16 crore at a cost of Rs 97.06 crore to patients across the country.
This had provided major relief to patients, especially in super-speciality hospitals like PGI, Nadda said.The minister said the committee formed by the Union Government was studying the prices of ortho implants and various categories of medicines. There was general feedback that some people were making exorbitant profits in selling ortho implants and medicines.“The government intends to cap the profits in ortho implants and certain categories of essential medicines so that patients are not fleeced.
The government has already taken a landmark decision regarding capping the prices of cardio implants,” Nadda said.When asked about the law that would bar medical practitioners from prescribing brand names of medicines, he said the matter was under active consideration of the Medical Council of India (MCI). The deliberations were going on between the officials of the Ministry for Health and the Medical Council of India over the issue. The basic idea behind the move was to curb a few corrupt practices in medical profession that were harming the interests of poor patients, he said.He said the government had already formulated scheme as Jan Aushadi Kendras in which generic medicines are being provided at very nominal rates to patients.
Source Tribune India
