BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey has directed doctors and officials of Amrit Pharmacy to supply medicines only on prescription on doctor or hospital’s letterhead.

The minister was speaking while going to inspect an Amrit Pharmacy running in Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi. During his visit, the minister saw many patients purchasing medicines against prescription on plain paper.

He told doctors to use only hospital letterhead for prescribing medicines. It is dangerous to prescribe medicines on plain paper, he added.

The health minister inaugurated three stores under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra (PMBJK) in Lady Hardinge Medical College, Dr RML Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.

Mr Choubey stated that the cost of medicines supplied under PMBJK are much less than the cost of branded medicines sold in the open market.

The minister also informed that several lakh people have availed treatment so far in several hospitals across the country under the Ayushman Bharat scheme since its launch.