Bengaluru:
The Congress-led Karnataka government has issued a directive to evict Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadi Kendras operating on the premises of state-run hospitals, citing a policy decision to not allow their presence within government healthcare facilities.
According to official sources, District Health Officers (DHOs) have been instructed to issue eviction notices to Jan Aushadi Kendra owners situated within government hospitals. Of the 1,400 such stores in the state, approximately 180 are located on government premises.
Government Justifies Move Citing Free Medicines
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao defended the decision, asserting that patients at government hospitals already receive free medicines, making the presence of Jan Aushadi outlets redundant. He clarified that while the government is not against the Jan Aushadi scheme itself, it will not permit new Kendras to open within hospital compounds and is actively moving to shut down existing ones in these locations.
Owners Protest, Warn of Losses and Demonstrations
The move has triggered a sharp response from Jan Aushadi Kendra owners, who argue that the decision will lead to significant financial losses. Many have taken out loans to establish these centres, and fear that drug stocks worth ₹2.5–3 lakh per outlet may go to waste due to expiry.
The Jan Aushadi Owners’ Association has urged the state government to withdraw the order, warning of statewide protests if their demands are ignored.
The standoff has added a political dimension to the healthcare policy debate in Karnataka, as the state government’s move is seen by some as diverging from central government healthcare initiatives.
