Only Jan Aushadhi Kendras operating within govt hospital premises suspended: Min. Dinesh Gundu Rao
Bengaluru, May 21 (PTI): Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday clarified that only the Jan Aushadhi Kendras functioning within the premises of the government hospitals have been suspended and those operating outside will continue.
He acknowledged that Jan Aushadhi Kendras provides medicines at a subsidised price, but the Karnataka government provides free medicine.
"So what's the need for Jan Aushadhi within the government hospital premises," the minister said and suggested Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje verify facts before spreading false information.
"Misinformation is more harmful than any other disease," he said, tagging the BJP MP in his post on 'X'.
Rao's clarification came a day after Karandlaje shared a post of a government order regarding the closure of Jan Aushadi Kendras on the premises of government hospitals. She claimed that: "This decision isn't just anti-poor, it's anti-healthcare and anti-livelihood."
According to officials, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra scheme ensures quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all citizens. Under the scheme, dedicated outlets known as Janaushadhi Kendras are opened to provide generic medicines at affordable prices.
"Only the Jan Aushadhi Kendras functioning within the premises of the government hospitals is suspended. Jan Aushadhi Kendras operating outside the government hospital premises will continue to operate," Rao said, responding to her post.
According to Rao, government doctors are not allowed to recommend patients to purchase any prescribed drugs from outside sources.
Hospitals have also been instructed to negotiate special pricing with the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) or procure generic medicines directly from BPPI to distribute it free of cost to patients, he said.
Earlier the health minister had said that the culture of doctors in government hospitals writing prescriptions for patients to purchase medicines from private medical shops should be abandoned and that patients should be provided with adequate medicines free of cost in government hospitals.
"In this context, 31 proposals submitted to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras on the premises of government hospitals have been rejected. It has been suggested that KSMSCL (Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation) and BPPI should formulate special rates for the purchase of generic medicines, and alternatively, hospitals can purchase medicines from BPPI and distribute them to patients free of cost.
"I appeal to the public to get medicines free of cost at the medicine centres in government hospitals themselves," he had said.
Mr @TVMohandasPai before fully understanding the subject don’t come to conclusions. If there’s any Govt that thinks most about the poor it is Shri @siddaramaiah’s govt.
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) May 21, 2025
We don’t need prodding, least of all from you.
There are 1400 Jan Aushada Kendra’s in Karnataka and only… https://t.co/vDnL1ZVRdg
I suggest that @ShobhaBJP verify the facts before spreading false information. Misinformation is more harmful than any other disease.
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) May 21, 2025
Its true that Jan Aushadi provides medicines at a subsidised price, but the Karnataka government provides free medicine. So whats the need for Jan… https://t.co/b1KBJ5OWOD pic.twitter.com/8bGucJ2H63
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Uproar in Karnataka Assembly as opposition protests demanding minister to resign
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes with BJP and JD(S) members protesting from the well of the House, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R B Timmapur, alleging a multi-crore scam in his department.
The opposition on Tuesday had staged an all-night protest in the Assembly after Timmapur refused to quit over corruption charges against him and his son in liquor licensing and transfer of officials.
As the House met for the day, BJP and JD(S) MLAs, who were in the well of the House, shouted slogans, demanding Timmapur's resignation.
Leading the charge, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka alleged that in the Excise Department, bribes are being taken for granting licenses and for facilitating transfers.
ALSO READ: Excise scam allegation: Bhajans, sloganeering mark Opposition's overnight protest in Assembly
Wine merchants' association has alleged that the scam in the excise department is to the tune of about Rs 6,000 crore, and related audio recordings have been released, complaints have been filed with the Lokayukta, he said.
He also claimed that the "looted money" was being used by the ruling Congress to fund the party in election-bound states.
Stating that he has provided three pen drives in the House, containing audio evidence to prove alleged scam in the excise department, and there are statement made by an Excise Deputy Commissioner about commissions going to the Minister, Ashoka said, Thimmapur should immediately resign, and there should be an inquiry.
"I urge the Chief Minister to take the Minister's resignation immediately, let there be an inquiry, and after three months if he is proved innocent, take him back in to the ministry," he said, adding that K J George of Congress and K S Eshwarappa, earlier with BJP, had resigned as ministers in the past, following allegations against them.
Questions are being asked as to what is the CM's share in this scam, for not taking any action against the minister, who is facing charges, the opposition leader said, "Siddaramaiah preaches morality, but does he have any morality?"
Valmiki ST Development Corporation funds were used by the ruling Congress for Lok Sabha polls, he alleged.
"Now for Assam polls, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar is the Congress election in-charge and for Kerala K J George is the in-charge, and the fund used in these elections is the Karnataka Excise department's. We have been alleging that Congress is using Karnataka as its ATM, but now it is emerging that for the Congress leadership, Karnataka is a Reserve Bank to fund their elections."
Following this, BJP and JD(S) members protesting from the well of the House shouted slogans demanding the Minister Timmapur's resignation; some slogans were also raised against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
As his repeated attempts to convince the opposition to withdraw the protest failed, Speaker U T Khader allowed the Congress members to continue with the discussion on the resolution moved by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Assembly on Tuesday, urging the Centre to immediately repeal the VB-G RAM G act and reinstate MGNREGA.
After some time, as the protest and sloganeering intensified, Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Manappa Lamani, who was on the Chair, adjourned the House for some time.
