New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, March 30 (NationPress) HLL Lifecare Limited, based in Thiruvananthapuram, has proudly attained the ISO 9001:2015 certification for its extensive retail pharmacy operations across the country. This achievement represents a crucial advancement in ensuring quality standards throughout its broad public healthcare network.

The certification encompasses a total of 239 centers nationwide, which include AMRIT Pharmacies, AMRIT Opticals, HLL Pharmacy & Surgicals, and HLL Opticals.

This initiative is anticipated to promote operational consistency, transparency, and enhance patient trust within one of the largest government-supported networks dedicated to providing affordable medications in India.

This milestone coincides with a significant year for the Mini Ratna public sector enterprise that operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as it marks its Diamond Jubilee while also celebrating a decade of the AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) initiative.

Originally launched in 2015 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, the AMRIT program has rapidly expanded into a nationwide network that spans 24 States and five Union Territories. To date, the initiative has provided services to over 72.96 million patients, emphasizing its crucial role in addressing affordability issues in healthcare access.

As per official figures, medicines worth Rs 18,817.42 crore (at maximum retail price) have been distributed through this network, leading to an estimated savings of Rs 9,235.78 crore for patients.

By making available over 6,500 medicines, implants, and consumables at discounts reaching up to 50 percent, AMRIT has significantly alleviated out-of-pocket expenses, especially for individuals seeking treatment at major government hospitals.

The 10th anniversary of AMRIT, celebrated in New Delhi, was inaugurated by Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda. The event also unveiled several new initiatives, including the addition of 10 new AMRIT outlets, upgraded IT-enabled services (Ecogreen Version 2.0), and a 24x7 national call center aimed at improving accessibility and service delivery.

The ISO certification is viewed as a pivotal factor in HLL’s upcoming growth phase, aligning its retail operations with international quality standards while reinforcing its mission to provide affordable healthcare access.

With over 60 years of experience, HLL continues to adapt as a diversified healthcare entity, leveraging scale, technology, and policy support to broaden its impact on India’s public health landscape.