Steps taken to address medicine shortage: Karnataka Minister tells Assembly

Bengaluru: Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told the Assembly that the government had procured 475 of the total 732 essential and desirable drugs.

Answering a question by former DyCM Dr C N Ashwath Narayan during Question Hour, Rao said, of the 475 drugs, 344 were available in district warehouses.

However, Narayan said: “There is a shortage of drugs in hospitals. The Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited is expected to have essential, very essential and most essential drugs. All included, at least 761 drugs should be available, but the answer says only 475 are available. In reality, there are only 231 drugs.”