Buying angioplasty items from AMRIT must at PGI

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 17

In a major relief to patients coming to the Cardiology Department at the PGI, the department head today issued a directive making the purchase of angioplasty consumables through AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) pharmacy a must.

The directive has come in the form of a notice issued by Dr Yash Pal Sharma, Head, Cardiology Department, a copy of which is with Chandigarh Tribune.

A copy of the notice has been marked to the PPS to the Director, DDA, all faculty members of the department and the Chief Security Officer of the PGI.

Dr Sharma said the directive had been issued to bring transparency in the system and to eliminate local drug and implant dealers who exploited patients.

He said the next step would be to extend the directive to the purchase of other items, including pacemakers.

“AMRIT is a Government of India project, introduced with the aim of reducing the expenditure incurred by common patients on treatment of cancer and heart diseases in the country. This directive is a step towards fulfilling the purpose,” he said.

The PGI has three AMRIT outlets – two in Nehru Hospital and one at the Advanced Cardiac Centre. Each outlet provides nearly 2,000 affordable medicines and implants to patients at the PGI, and serves a large number of patients from North India by providing branded medicines at a discount ranging from 30 to 70 per cent.

The notice

“As per instructions of the Administration, coronary angioplasty items and consumables are to be purchased only through AMRIT. All vendors are advised to come through AMRIT, the affordable price shop, for proper billing and convenience of patients. Security persons are advised not to issue any letters allowing other drug companies.”

Angioplasty

Surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel, especially a coronary artery, that may result in heart-related problems and if ignored, can create serious heart-related issues or even sudden death

Angioplasty consumables

Angioplasty may require stent/s and balloon. This is estimated by cardiac surgeons.

Drug dealers’ allegations

Some private drug dealers in the city have levelled allegations of illegal procurement of life-saving implants, consumables and medications at the AMRIT pharmacy. PGI spokesperson Manju Wadwalkar refused to comment on the issue.

What is AMRIT

The flagship programme of the Union Health Ministry – AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) – makes available and accessible, at very affordable rates, all drugs, implants and surgical disposables that are not dispensed free of cost by the hospitals. AMRIT pharmacies stock nearly 2,200 drugs, surgical disposables and implants (including those needed for cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular patients) that are offered at an average discount of 63 per cent. The AMRIT programme was launched by Union Health Minister JP Nadda in November 2015 and is being implemented through mini-ratna PSU HLL Lifecare Ltd, which has been setting up pharmacies at major hospitals across the country to dispense medicines.