SHILLONG, Nov 28: State’s hospitals are inundated with patients compelled to purchase expensive medicines from private clinics but Meghalaya has only two Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) pharmacies, an initiative of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that offer affordable drugs, implants, surgical items, and disposables.
Both AMRIT pharmacies are located in Shillong — one at NEIGRIHMS and the other at Shillong Civil Hospital — leaving the rest of the state without access to these vital facilities.
Concerns have been raised about the limited availability of medicines even at these pharmacies.
A Shillong resident remarked, “At the NEIGRIHMS AMRIT pharmacy, they mostly stock medicines prescribed by the institute’s doctors. The same situation exists at the Shillong Civil Hospital pharmacy.” Citizens have emphasised the need for these pharmacies to stock a wider range of medicines prescribed by doctors from other hospitals and clinics, especially during a time when medicine costs are skyrocketing.
The NEIGRIHMS AMRIT pharmacy, in particular, often sees long queues as patients flock there for its affordable offerings. Residents have called for the government to expand the network of AMRIT pharmacies to other parts of the state to address the growing demand.
In stark contrast, the neighbouring state of Assam boasts 24 AMRIT pharmacies, with almost every district having at least one such facility. Due to the inadequate stock in Shillong’s AMRIT pharmacies, some residents are forced to travel to Guwahati to purchase medicines, where AMRIT outlets are better stocked.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the AMRIT retail pharmacy network to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. These pharmacies provide over 5,200 drugs, implants, surgical disposables, and other consumables at discounts of up to 60% off the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
