6 Amrit pharmacies coming up in medical colleges

Guwahati: An MOU has been signed for opening of six Amrit pharmacies at 6 college hospitals in Assam.The agreement has been signed between the state government and HLL Lifecare Limited in the presence of BP Khandowal, Chairman,HLL Lifecare and Anup Barman, Director of Medical Education, Assam.

The announcement of setting up of the Amrit pharmacies in collaboration with the state government was made earlier in the day on Thursday, by the State Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The aim behind opening of these pharmacies is to provide drugs,surgical, oncology, cardiovascular medicines and implants to patients at prices lower than the open market. The hospitals will be providing free of cost space to the pharmacies in a public-private partnership.

Other consumables are also be made available to patients of the hospitals & general public, based on valid prescription at reasonable price. Hospital store requirements are also to be fulfilled at affordable cost.

The first Amrit pharmacy is to come up within a month at Guwahati Medical College Hospital and the other five are to be set up in 5 other medical colleges of the state, within the coming three months.

"If these six pharmacies run successfully, then the department will open more such pharmacies in 27 districts of the State," said Sarma.

HLL is to set up, maintain and operate AMRIT Pharmacies with government sanction.

Chief Secretary, VK Pipersenia and Principals of the six medical colleges were present on this occasion.

The AMRIT pharmacies will be set up at Guwahati Medical College Hospital, Guwahati; Assam Medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh; Jorhat Medical College Hospital, Jorhat; Tezpur Medical College Hospital, Sonitpur; Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College, Barpeta and Silchar Medical College Hospital, Silchar.

HLL will obtain drug licenses, recruit and engage qualified pharmacist and required staff for managing AMRIT pharmacy stores with the software systems. AMRIT pharmacies will provide 24X7 services to the patients. HLL Lifecare Ltd is a Central government enterprise under direct administrative control of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.