V Somanna opposes closing of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, urges Karnataka CM to reconsider decision

He said that Siddaramaiah having long political experience and always dedicated his work for poor should not take decision of shutting down Janaushadhi Kendras.

New Delhi: Criticising the Karnataka government's decision to close down Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras operating from state-run hospitals, Union Minister for Railways V Somanna on Tuesday asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to reconsider the decision.

In his letter written to the CM, the Union Minister said the closure of Jan Aushadhi Kendras would be betrayal to poor, who come to the government hospital for treatment.

These Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been rendering services in providing medicines at affordable prices. The purpose of starting these stores are to provide generic medicines at low prices. Closing down such Kendras would harm a large number of patients particularly poor, he said in the letter.

Siddaramaiah having long political experience and always dedicated his work for poor should not take decision of shutting down Janaushadhi Kendras, he said.

In the recent decision, the Karnataka Health and Family Welfare rejected 31 fresh applications for opening Janaushadhi Kendras at the government hospital premises and allowed existing licences to expire on completion of their term. The decision will affect about 200 centres in the state.

The government cited its principle of ensuring free medicines to all patients in government hospitals as the primary reason for phasing out Kendras from within hospital campuses.

However, the government clarified that Kendras operating independently or outside hospital premises are permitted to continue.