— Karnataka will continue inspections of medicine-selling outlets across the state to identify violations involving expired labels, incorrect labelling and pricing, Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader said on Monday. The government is also preparing a QR-code-based system for residents to submit complaints about medicine-related problems.
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, Khader said officials were already conducting inspections to strengthen food safety and that similar action would be taken to improve drug safety. He said complaints had been received against some pharmaceutical companies over expired labels, improperly affixed labels and the collection of prices above permitted levels.
Some medicines were also being sold without an adequately displayed maximum retail price, the minister said. Officials have raided such medicine-selling establishments and imposed penalties, according to his statement. The report did not specify the number of inspections, the outlets penalised or the total value of fines imposed.
Khader said regulation of medicine prices falls under the responsibility of the Union government. However, because pricing and related irregularities can affect public health, Karnataka would consider these issues and submit a report to the Centre to draw attention to them, he said.
The minister also addressed concerns involving employees of the state’s 108 ambulance service. He said the companies holding contracts for the service were responsible for recruiting employees and providing uniforms, cleanliness measures and training. Drivers facing employment-related problems should raise them with their companies, he said, and bring the matter to the government’s notice if wages were not paid according to the contract.
Khader warned that strict action would be taken if an ambulance workers’ protest caused health-related difficulties for patients. He said responsibility would be fixed on whoever was in charge of the ambulances at the time if patients faced disruption because of the protest. The minister did not announce a separate timeline for the QR-code complaint system or provide details of the proposed report to the Union government.
