Karnataka halts Jan Aushadhi centres in government hospitals citing policy conflict
The Karnataka government has suspended the approval of new Jan Aushadhi centres inside government hospital premises, stating that their presence contradicts the policy of not directing patients to external sources for medicines. As a result, all 31 pending applications for setting up such centres have been rejected by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.Earlier, the government had approved the establishment of around 200 Jan Aushadhi stores in Community Health Centres, Taluk Hospitals, and District Hospitals to provide affordable generic medicines. Doctors in government hospitals are required to prescribe medicines using generic names and inform patients about the availability of low-cost generic medicines at Jan Aushadhi stores.advertisementHowever, the government clarified that setting up Jan Aushadhi centres within hospital premises goes against the policy to ensure that hospitals do not recommend patients to purchase medicines from outside sources. Centres operating outside hospital premises can continue functioning as they are beyond the department's jurisdiction.
For centres already functioning inside government hospitals, the government has directed that they be closed in accordance with existing agreements. 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 free of cost to patients.This move aims to align medicine distribution policies more closely with government regulations and ensure patients have access to affordable medicines without conflicting procurement channels.Jan Aushadhi centres, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), is a government initiative that provides affordable, quality generic medicines to the public through dedicated stores.advertisement
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