Lucknow: Cheaper medicines, stents at KGMU after Amrit Pharmacy launch

PSM News /

LUCKNOW, 22 August 2017:

If you were weary of big medical bills where a knee replacement would cost you somewhere between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakhs, King George's Medical University (KGMU) would now be at rescue with affordable prices under Amrit (Affordable medicine and reliable implant) pharmacy. Inaugurated at KGMU on Monday, at the pharmacy, the said implants would now be available for just between Rs 54,000 to Rs 76,000, to not just all coming in with a valid doctor's prescription.

 

Not just implants, but also both generic and branded medicines will be 50-90% cheaper than market price at the Amrit pharmacy to be functional at the old out patient department (OPD) and Shatabdi phase I building. Around 164 cancer drugs,191 cardiovascular medicines, stents, implants and in total around 5,200 medicines will be available at the 24X7 functional pharmacy

 

Inaugurated through video conferencing by union health minister JP Nadda from Himachal Pradesh, total 15 pharmacies were inaugurated on the day, 12 in Assam, one each in Faridkot and Shimla and two in KGMU. State minister for medical education Ashutosh Tandon and principal secretary Anita Bhatnagar Jain were present for the ceremony in Lucknow.

                       

With 84 stores previously, on Monday the figures reached a 100 Amrit stores across the country, with KGMU being the second for the state after one in Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Prof Ajai Singh, head of the paediatrics orthopaedics department has been made incharge for the pharmacy at KGMU.

 

Speaking on the day, Nadda said, 'The reason we are able to put a cap on the high prices is because of the quantum of medicines ordered, direct purchase from manufacturer and the facility of a free space that we get that cut down the price. He added, "Around 32,65,000 patients have been served through 84 stores and Rs 375 crore worth medicines and implants given out Rs 130 crores."

 

Given the number of patients KGMU caters to in the state,when Ashutosh Tandon asked Nadda for at least 10 more such counters at the university alone, Nadda said, "We will give UP how ever many are needed, just provide us free space for it."

 

Prices under Amrit pharmacy:

Bare metal stent

Then: Rs 1lakh

Now: Rs 12,060

 

Drug eluting stent

Then: Rs 2 lakh

Now: Rs 29,000

 

Cobalt chromium knee replacement

Then: Rs 1 lakh

Now: Rs 54,000

 

Titanium knee replacement

Then: Rs 2.5lakhs

Now: Rs 76,000

 

Total hip replacement

Then: Rs 1.5 lakh

Now: Rs 60,000-Rs 90,000

ET Healthworld