Railways' planned 7,000 health centres to sell cheap drugs, sanitary pads

Initiative is part of National Health Protection Scheme proposed in Budget 2018, covering 500 mn people from lower-income strata

Indian Indian Railways may soon launch primary healthcare centres with Jan Aushadhi stores and sanitary pad vending machines at about 7,000 railway stations across the country, according to an Economic Times  report. This comes as a part of efforts to boost the National Health Protection Scheme proposed in Budget 2018-19. The scheme is the largest health care initiative ever, covering a population 500 million from the lower-income strata.

The Railway Ministry proposes to allow its infrastructure to be used for providing primary health care services at affordable prices. A senior Railway Ministry official, who did not wish to be identified,