The Karnataka government, led by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, has declared its intention to legally challenge a recent Karnataka High Court verdict. The court had nullified the state's order to shut down all Jan Aushadi Kendras operating within the premises of government-run hospitals.
Court Quashes Closure Order, State Prepares Appeal
Last week, the Karnataka High Court quashed an order issued by the state's Department of Health and Family Welfare on May 14. That directive had mandated the closure of all Jan Aushadi Kendras, which sell affordable generic medicines under the Central Government's Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, from state hospital campuses. The court's decision came in response to a batch of petitions filed by the kendra owners, who argued that the closure violated their constitutional rights and disregarded the significant investments they had made in infrastructure, medicine stocks, and equipment.
Minister Rao confirmed the government's stance on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, during the Zero Hour in the Legislative Council in Belagavi. He stated that the state would file an appeal against the high court's order in the coming days.
'Nothing Political,' Says Minister, Stresses Free Medicine Goal
Responding to questions raised by BJP MLCs Dhananjay Sarji and Pradeep Shettar, Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao strongly denied any political motive behind the controversial closure decision. "Our intention was only to ensure that the government hospitals provide free medicines and treatment. There is nothing political in this," Rao asserted.
He elaborated on the government's vision, emphasizing a model of completely free healthcare within its facilities. "If it is free, it must be completely free. There should not be a system where doctors prescribe medicines to be bought outside," the minister said. Rao noted that the health department had already written to the Union Health Minister requesting a direct supply of generic medicines, and the state was prepared to procure and distribute these medicines at no cost to patients in government hospitals.
Operational Concerns and Future Stance
Rao provided details on the current operational model, revealing that 80 Jan Aushadi Kendras are operated by Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL), a state government undertaking. While acknowledging and welcoming the Centre's plan to expand the Jan Aushadi network, the minister expressed firm reservations about their location within government hospital premises, calling it unviable.
"Allowing businesses inside government hospitals could lead to other problems," Rao cautioned, hinting at potential conflicts of interest and administrative challenges. The state's appeal will thus center on its policy to maintain a boundary between commercial drug sales and the provision of entirely free treatment within its public health institutions.
The legal battle sets the stage for a significant clarification on the implementation of central health schemes at the state level, with implications for affordable medicine access and the operational autonomy of state healthcare policies.
