West Bengal to showcase affordable medicine concept in Italy: Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her government's initiative to provide affordable health care through fair price medicine shops and diagnostic centres in government hospitals has been selected for presentation at an international conference in Italy next month.

"Our Fair Price Medicine Shops and Diagnostic Centres in government hospitals continue to receive more and more international attention and acclaim," Banerjee said in her Facebook post today.

"A research study conducted on this innovative intervention of our government to reduce pocket expenses of patient parties has been selected for presentation in the 11th World Congress of International Health Economics Association to be held at Milan, Italy during July 12-15, 2015," Banerjee said in her post.

Stating that already 99 Fair Price Medicine Shops have been opened in just four years providing medicines at 48 to 77.2 per cent discount, Banerjee said "More than Rs 440 crore discount has been availed of by 157 lakh patients so far. It has been declared a model for the country."

"Moreover, 58 Fair Price Diagnostic Centres have been set up in just four years offering digital X-ray, dialysis, CT Scan and MRI at very affordable prices," the Chief Minister said.