Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 11: In a significant setback to the state government, the Karnataka High Court has quashed the order directing the closure of Jan Aushadhi centres operating within government hospital premises.

The government’s directive, issued on May 14, had halted the functioning of these centres after the Health Department stated that they conflicted with the policy discouraging patients from being referred to outside sources for medicines.

The Dharwad Bench set aside the circular following petitions filed by Rakesh Mahalingappa L and others. The court’s decision comes several months after it had earlier stayed the operation of the same order on July 8.

Reacting to the judgement, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said in a post on X that the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana has enabled the poor to save over Rs 30,000 crore in medical expenses over the past decade by ensuring access to affordable generic medicines. He added that the court’s ruling should serve as a reminder that political considerations must not hinder public welfare. Surya also noted that his law office had challenged the order and acknowledged advocate Anirudh Kulkarni and his team for pursuing the case.

In August, health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had defended the state’s decision to close Jan Aushadhi Kendras located inside government hospitals, stating that the move was intended to ensure a reliable supply of essential medicines to patients at no cost and to minimise out-of-pocket expenditure. His statement was issued in response to concerns raised by union health minister J P Nadda in a letter to chief minister Siddaramaiah.

Jan Aushadhi Kendras operate under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, which aims to make low-cost, quality generic medicines accessible across the country.