**Summary:**
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 952 on July 25, 2025, regarding the free distribution of essential medicines. The response clarifies that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mangalagiri (Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh), established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), provides 553 essential medicines, including insulin, and 354 surgical consumables free of cost to all inpatients. Furthermore, patients belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families receive cashless inpatient services under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY). To ensure affordable access to medicines, implants and surgical consumables, an AMRIT Pharmacy has been established at AIIMS Mangalagiri. Additionally, a Janaushadhi Kendra provides generic medicines at affordable rates.
Key Entities Referenced
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Vijayawada: A medical institute mentioned in the question, specifically regarding the free distribution of medicines.
Below Poverty Line (BPL): A socio-economic category referring to people living below the poverty line, with specific relevance to subsidized medicine access.
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakhsha Yojana (PMSSY): A Government of India scheme under which AIIMS Mangalagiri was established.
All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Mangalagiri: A medical institute located in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, providing free medicines to inpatients.
Andhra Pradesh: The state in India where AIIMS Mangalagiri is located.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY): A health scheme of the Government of India, under which BPL patients receive cashless inpatient services at AIIMS Mangalagiri.
AMRIT Pharmacy: A pharmacy set up in AIIMS Mangalagiri to provide medicines, implants and surgical consumables at affordable rates.
JANAUSHADHI Kendra: A center set up to provide generic medicines at affordable rates.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 952
TOBE ANSWERED ON25.07.2025
FREE DISTRIBUTION OFESSENTIALMEDICINES
952 SHRIBASTIPATI NAGARAJU:
SHRIB K PARTHASARATHI:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijayawada provides insulin and other
essential medicinesfree of cost topatients;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof,and if not,the reasons therefor;
(c) whether there are any special provisions in place to ensure free or subsidized access to essential
medicinesfor persons belongingtoBelow Poverty Line (BPL)familiesandif so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has made any provisions for the distribution of free essential medicines
through collaborationswith private or public Agencies; and
(e) if so, the details of such collaborations, including the names of the agencies involved andthe scope of
theircontribution?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (e) Under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakhsha Yojana (PMSSY), All India Institute of Medical
Science (AIIMS) has been established at Mangalagiri in Guntur District in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Presently, 553 essential medicines including insulin and 354 surgical consumables are being provided
free of cost toallthe inpatients admittedat AIIMS Mangalagiri.
All the BPL patients are provided cashless in-patient services at AIIMS Mangalagiri under
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), of Govt. of India. In AIIMS
Mangalagiri, AMRIT Pharmacy has been set up to provide medicine, implants and surgical consumables
at affordable rates to the patients. In addition, JAN-AUSHADHI Kendra has also been set up to provide
generic medicinesat affordablerates.
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