Bengaluru (PTI): Refusing to accept Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil's stand that Jan Aushadhi Kendras are not needed on government hospital premises as the state-run medical facilities provide medicines for free, the BJP claimed it is depriving poor patients of subsidised medicines.

BJP State President B Y Vijayendra said the minister's move deprives patients from weaker sections from obtaining medicines at affordable prices.

“Is the Congress government more focused on its own clumsy politics than on the health of the poor? It’s truly disheartening to hear Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil deny permission for Jan Aushadi Kendras near government hospital premises,” the Shikaripura MLA said.

Speaking to a Kannada news channel, Patil said he will not allow Jan Aaushadhi Kendras on the premises of government hospitals.

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“I am not allowing because the government’s idea is to give medicines free of cost at the government hospitals. People will have to buy medicines at the Jan Aushadhi. I am not allowing it because I don’t want to encourage it, because in the government hospitals, medical stores should not exist. Government’s noble intention is that it should give drugs free of cost,” Patil said.

When the government is giving medicines free of cost, why should there be a store giving medicines at a subsidised rate, he asked. “You know what will happen next? There will be a nexus. If the medical store is allowed, they will go and request the doctors to write or prescribe specific medicines. That nexus will start. I don’t want that to happen in my hospitals,” he added.

According to Vijayendra, this decision not only deprives patients of access to affordable medicines but also raises serious concerns about a possible conspiracy to benefit pharmaceutical companies at the expense of the needy.

“The @INCKarnataka government must reconsider and reverse any decisions that go against the welfare of the people,” Vijayendra said.

Since the Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana is a central government project, Vijayendra said, it was essential to avoid a confrontational stance with the central government and instead focus on the well-being of the citizens.

“The @narendramodi government established Jan Aushadi Kendras to ensure that affordable generic medicines are available to the poor, and Karnataka should continue on this path for the greater good of its citizens,” he said.

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Bengaluru/Vijayanagara, Nov 26: Karnataka Congress MLA H R Gaviyappa on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to drop some poll guarantees, citing lack of funds, which drew sharp response from Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.

The ruling party MLA from Vijayanagara suggested that the election guarantees have made it difficult to provide houses to the poor in the state.

“Because of guarantee schemes, there is difficulty in providing houses to poor. We are also asking the Chief Minister to drop two or three schemes, which are not needed. Let’s see what the Chief Minister says,” Gaviyappa said in a public meeting in Vijayanagara.

He, however, maintained that he would stand by the decision taken by the Chief Minister.

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According to the Congress MLA, the CM raised Rs 40,000 crore this year keeping development in mind.

The legislator's statement irked Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar.

“This is Congress party. I am going to issue him a showcause notice. He can’t do that. No question of closing any guarantee. We have committed to the people of Karnataka. No one can raise their voice (against the guarantees),” the Deputy CM, who is also the Congress state president told media in Bengaluru.

He said a Congress MLA cannot speak against the guarantees.

Those who are ineligible will not get the benefit, Shivakumar said adding the same policy has been adopted in the recent revision of BPL cards.

The Karnataka government has decided to remove the government employees and income tax payees from the list of BPL card holders as per the Central government norms.

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