Kolkata: West Bengal's initiative to provide affordable healthcare through fair price medicine shops will be showcased in an international conference in Italy, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today.

"Our fair price medicine shops and diagnostic centres in government hospitals continue to receive more and more international attention and acclaim.

"A research study conducted on this innovative intervention of our government to reduce out of 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 12-15th July, 2015," Banerjee posted on her Facebook page.

She said 99 fair price medicine shops have been opened in four years providing medicines at a discount of 48 to 77.2 per cent.

"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 price," Banerjee said.

(IANS)