Latest news with #JanaushadhiKendras
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Govt will add 75K medical seats in next 5 years: Nadda
Belagavi: Union health minister JP Nadda said the Narendra Modi govt aims to significantly increase opportunities in medical education by adding 75,000 seats across the country over the next five years. Speaking as the chief guest at the 15th convocation of KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, a deemed university, in Belagavi, Nadda highlighted the strides made in the healthcare education sector. "In the past 10 years, the govt has increased undergraduate medical seats from 45,000 to nearly 1.2 lakh — a 130% jump," he said. "Postgraduate seats grew by 138%. We are not going to stop there. Under the third term of PM Modi, we intend to add 75,000 medical seats in the next five years. " Nadda outlined the govt's broader approach to healthcare, emphasising a model that is "curative, preventive, palliative, and rehabilitative". "Today, over 1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya mandirs operate across the country, providing a range of wellness and healthcare services," he said. Union minister Pralhad Joshi praised India's rapid growth in the healthcare sector, including medical services, equipment manufacturing, and exports, besides the launch of Janaushadhi Kendras, a nationwide network which provides generic medicines at low costs. "Unfortunately, some states are shutting down these centres," Joshi said, a pointed reference to the Karnataka govt's decision to close kendras on the premises of govt hospitals.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Sarvatrika Arogya Andolana – Karnataka calls for urgent reforms to ensure regular supply of free medicines to patients
Welcoming the Karnataka government's decision to close down Janaushadhi Kendras on the premises of government facilities, members of the Sarvatrika Arogya Andolana–Karnataka (SAA-K), a coalition of 30 networks advocating 'Health for All', has called for urgent measures to ensure uninterrupted availability and free access to essential medicines within public health facilities. Asserting that the closure of around 180 Janaushadhi Kendras on government hospital premises is only a first step, SAA-K members said urgent measures must follow to guarantee that no patient is forced to buy medicines, whether from private pharmacies or Jan Aushadhi stores. Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, Rajesh Kumar, convener of SAA-K Bangalore Urban district, said: 'The closure of Janaushadhi Kendras on government hospital premises corrects a contradiction: medicines should be provided free at public facilities, and their sale within the same premises undermined that very promise.' Reform KSMSCL 'The government must now focus on strengthening Karnataka State Medical Services Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) and ensuring uninterrupted supply of quality medicines in all government facilities,' said another member Ritash, a writer and an LGBTQIA+ peer counsellor. Asha Kilaru, a public health researcher with SAAK, said KSMSCL must match the efficiency, transparency, and quality of the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC). With better systems, KSMSCL can procure more medicines with the same budget and reduce dependence on Janaushadhi Kendras. It lowers out-of-pocket expenses, an SDG goal. 'NITI Aayog's claim that PMBJKs sold ₹935.25 crore worth of medicines in 2023–24 (reportedly saving people ₹4,680 crore) misses the point that this figure represents money spent by people out-of-pocket, much of which could have been saved by a robust public procurement and free distribution system similar to Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Kerala,' she said. Misinformation Pointing towards misinformation on the government's move to close Janaushadhi Kendras on government hospital premises, Prasanna, public health researcher at SAAK, said these kendras outside government facilities remain operational. 'Over 1,400 stores continue to function across Karnataka, allowing continued access to affordable generic medicines for those who can buy it. Some vested interests are falsely claiming that this move denies people access to affordable medicines. In truth, the real issue is the lack of availability of free medicines inside government facilities, which forces patients to spend from their own pockets whether at retail drug stores or Janaushadhi stores, and urgent necessary reforms are needed to correct it,' he added.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Government doctors must now prescribe medicines available in hospital pharmas
KALABURAGI: Medical Education Department will issue orders restricting the doctors serving in the hospitals attached to the medical colleges in the state from giving prescriptions to the patients to purchase medicines from outside. Speaking to the media here, the Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil said that usually the common people, especially the poor would visit the government hospital and they could not pay the doctors fees in the private hospitals and could not purchase the medicines. The government has decided not to give permission to open medical shops or Jaanoushadhi Kendras in the hospitals, to prevent the patients from paying an amount for the medicines as the doctors would give prescriptions and ask patients to purchase medicines from the medical shops or Janaushadhi Kendras. Dr Sharanaprakash said that the medical education department would restrict the doctors serving in the hospitals attached to medical colleges in the state from giving prescriptions to the patients for purchasing medicine from outside and an order would be issued in this regard in a day or two. There would be funds with the government hospitals, if any of the medicines were not in stock, the hospitals have to procure them and give them to the patients free of cost, he said. Replying to a question on Covid cases, Dr Sharanaprakash said that the situation is not alarming.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Janaushadhi Kendras must continue in state: Shobha
Mangaluru: Opposing the Karnataka govt's move to shut down Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendras, Union minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises and labour & employment Shobha Karandlaje said that the state should review its decision. She told reporters in Sullia that Janaushadhi Kendras sell medicines at a very low rate and help a large number of patients. She questioned the govt's intention while deciding to shut the centres. "Janaushadhi Kendras should be allowed to continue," she said. Criticising the renaming of Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South, the minister said that it was part of a land mafia conspiracy. In response to a query on Operation Sindoor allegedly being politicised, the minister said that anyone can claim the credit for it. "We have no objection even if leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi shares pictures of him with soldiers. Let us do politics only when there is an election but we should remain united otherwise. There are chances of foreign countries misusing the difference of opinion among us. Hence, we should remain united to teach Pakistan a lesson," she added.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
MP opposes State govt. decision to close down PM Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras
Condemning the decision of State government to close down Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras operating from State-run hospitals, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta said on Thursday, May 22, that with this the Congress government is playing with the life of poor people. Capt. Chowta said in a statement that Janaushadhi Kendras have emerged as a successful model by ensuring affordable and quality medicine to lakhs of people, especially to poor people, at low cost. 'The State government has decided to close down over 200 Janaushadhi Kendras operating on the premises of primary and community health centres and taluk and district hospitals across the State by citing a lame excuse,' he said. The kendras played a pivotal role in generating self-employment and providing jobs to others. They contributed for strengthening the economy of the country. The State government's decision will hit the future of many families, he said and alleged: 'It (the government's decision) is a clear example of Congress government's anti-people stand.' Capt. Chowta, who is also the State secretary of the BJP, said that generic medicines are available at low cost ranging between 70 % to 90 % at the kendras. 'Whether the State government has bowed to the lobby of corporate pharmaceutical companies or private medical shops or if the government is unable to tolerate the Union government and Prime Minister as the kendras have become popular among people,' he asked. 'Whether the government is playing cheap politics even in the matters like people's health?,' Capt. Chowta questioned. The MP said that he opposed the government's decision and was urging the State to withdraw its order. It may be mentioned here that a Government Order (GO) issued on May 14 directed the Health Commissionerate to reject the 31 pending applications seeking approval to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras. With regard to the existing kendras on hospital premises, the department has been directed to terminate the agreement depending on the timelines mentioned in the memorandum of understanding. According to the government, its decision is to ensure patients get free medicine in State-run hospitals following complaints that patients are being given prescriptions to buy medicine from outside although they are supposed to be provided free by government hospitals. Hospitals have been directed to purchase generic medicines from the Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Units of India (BPPI) and dispense them to patients for free.
