Chandigarh:
Calling AMRIT Pharmacy a “big shot in the arm for patient care,” Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, today stated, “Ayushman Bharat is functioning like a 4×4 wheel drive, powering and sustaining the enormous patient load at PGIMER, while AMRIT serves as its backbone by ensuring affordability of treatment,” as he inaugurated the institute’s 14th AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) Pharmacy, the highest number of such outlets in any public sector hospital across the country.
The facility at Nehru Extension Block was inaugurated by Prof. Vivek Lal in the presence of Prof. R.K. Ratho, Dean (Academics); Prof. Sanjay Jain, Dean (Research); Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director Administration; Prof. Sandeep Bansal, Additional Medical Superintendent; Heads of Departments, senior faculty, residents, nursing officers, and staff of PGIMER.
Rajesh Nair, Vice President, AMRIT Pharmacy, was also present on the occasion along with his team, underscoring the continued support and collaboration from the AMRIT initiative.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Vivek Lal described the AMRIT initiative as a cornerstone of patient-centric care and highlighted its critical role in supporting beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat as he stated, “Every patient deserves assured quality and affordability. Through AMRIT, we are ensuring access to medicines from standard, reputed companies at significant discounts. This initiative has become a backbone of patient care,” Prof. Lal said.
Emphasizing the scale and pressure on services, Prof. Lal remarked, “ Ayushman Bharat is enabling access, supporting high patient volumes, and ensuring that financial constraints do not come in the way of treatment. AMRIT complements this by making medicines affordable and accessible.”
Highlighting expansion plans, Director PGIMER noted that with 14 AMRIT outlets already operational, PGIMER aims to establish 2 to 3 more outlets to further strengthen last-mile delivery of affordable medicines.
“In high-load areas such as cardiology and emergency services, AMRIT outlets are being positioned for 24×7 availability, with dedicated facilitation for Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries. This is not a commercial activity—it is a patient welfare movement ensuring timely access to essential medicines,” Prof. Lal stated.
Describing AMRIT as a transformative initiative, he said, “This is among the best interventions for patients. We are grateful to the Government of India for promoting such a noble and enlightening movement that directly benefits the common citizen.”
Acknowledging operational realities, Prof. Lal emphasized continuous improvement as he stated, “No system is ever 100 percent perfect, but we are committed to ensuring maximum efficiency and reliability. Issues such as availability gaps and refund timelines are being actively addressed, and we are in communication with the Ministry to further streamline processes.”
Director PGIMER also underlined the need for robust systems to handle the ever-increasing patient influx. “Given the magnitude of patient load, we are ensuring optimal stocking and seamless functioning of AMRIT outlets so that patient care, particularly under Ayushman Bharat, remains uninterrupted.”
Reiterating PGIMER’s legacy, Prof. Lal noted, “Since 1963, PGIMER has stood as a pillar of patient care. The scale of services we provide is equivalent to the best in the world, and we continue to strengthen infrastructure and systems in line with national priorities.”
Speaking on institutional reforms, Director PGIMER added, “There are always invisible resistances to change, but we are moving ahead against the current. Many initiatives that once seemed difficult—such as expanding AMRIT into critical care areas—are now a reality. These are silent yet powerful transformations benefiting patients every day.”
Sharing future developments, Prof. Lal informed that the Hon’ble Union Health Minister will visit PGIMER on April 27, 2026, for the convocation ceremony. During the visit, major facilities including the Neurosciences Centre, Advanced Maternal and Child Health Centre, Critical Care Centre, and other key infrastructure projects are expected to be inaugurated , further augmenting patient care capacity.
Director PGIMER also appreciated the role of administrative and financial streamlining in enabling progress. “In recent months, financial processes have become smoother, enabling faster procurement and improved service delivery. This has directly supported the expansion and efficiency of AMRIT outlets,” he said.
The inauguration of the 14th AMRIT Pharmacy reinforces PGIMER’s leadership in advancing affordable healthcare, with AMRIT and Ayushman Bharat together acting as a strong, complementary system to support the growing patient load and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.
