New Delhi, Nov 15 (NationPress) The Union government unveiled 10 new AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) pharmacies on Saturday to enhance access to affordable medications and improve healthcare services across the nation.

At an event in the national capital, Union Health Minister JP Nadda inaugurated the pharmacies, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the initiative.

“Since its inception in 2015, the AMRIT network has expanded to over 255 pharmacies in 24 States and four Union Territories,” Nadda remarked, expressing satisfaction with AMRIT’s decade-long mission to make quality medicines both affordable and accessible nationwide.

The new outlets will operate at locations such as PGI Neuroscience Centre in Chandigarh, GMCH Unit-II in Jammu, State Cancer Institute in Jammu, AIIMS Deogarh, Dental Hospital in Srinagar, SCTIMST in Trivandrum, Mumbai Port Trust, IIT Jodhpur, AIIMS Gorakhpur, and AIIMS Kalyani Unit 3.

“The AMRIT and Jan Aushadi Centres were established in 2014 to ensure accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare for all citizens,” Nadda added.

“These pharmacies manage essential medicines, including treatments for oncology, cardiac conditions, orthopaedic needs, and specialized interventions for both medications and medical devices,” he continued.

The outlets offer vital medications, life-saving drugs, and medical equipment at drastically reduced prices, often up to 50 percent lower than the maximum retail price (MRP).

The Minister noted that the “50 percent discounts available on branded medications in areas such as oncology, cardiology, orthopaedics, and endocrinology, without compromising quality, is noteworthy.”

Over 6,500 drugs and medical items are accessible through this network, benefiting more than 6.85 crore patients across India.

“To date, over 17,000 crore medicines have been dispensed through these outlets, resulting in cumulative patient savings exceeding Rs 8,500 crore,” he noted.

AMRIT pharmacies are located at all AIIMS campuses and various institutes of national significance throughout the country.

Nadda also encouraged HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL), a public sector unit under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to double the number of AMRIT outlets to “at least 500.”

“All private and government medical colleges, alongside District Hospitals, must include AMRIT. It should expand rapidly,” he urged, highlighting the need for increased awareness of AMRIT.

During the event, Nadda also introduced the upgraded Ecogreen 2.0 digital platform and launched a customized My Stamp through India Post.