I welcome the Hon'ble Supreme Court's strong observations and directions on the exorbitant pricing of life saving drugs for diseases like cancer. Excessive prices and wide price variations in life saving medicines are unacceptable under any circumstances. When I received complaints that essential cancer medicines were being sold at inflated prices. I directed the Drugs Control Division of the Department of Health & Family Welfare to investigate. Our statewide inquiry found a huge gap between the landing cost and the MRP of 253 cancer medicines. Medicines costing only a few hundred rupees were being sold with trade margins of 15% to 52%, and sometimes higher. On the direction of Hon'ble Chief Minister @DKShivakumar , we wrote to the Union Government with detailed cost and price data and urged urgent national action. Now, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins on cancer medicines at 30%. Prices of several drugs will fall by 20–70%, saving patients across the country nearly ₹2,500 crore every year. This is a historic day for Karnataka and our Health & Family welfare Department as we had brought to notice to Union Government & NPPA and had written letter's regarding this inflated price raise issue. Next steps in Karnataka from public healthcare. 
🔹 From November 1, 2026 Hospitals and pharmacies must show both the landing cost and the MRP on every patient bill.
🔹 We will closely examine the cost of medicines and treatment for Heart and Kidney diseases. Wherever patients are found to be exploited, we will investigate and take strict action on the same lines.
🔹 Inspections of hospitals and medical shops will continue to ensure compliance with the new price limits. Any violation will face strict legal action without exception. Cancer patients must not be forced to fight both the disease and the burden of unaffordable medicines. Our government will not tolerate anyone who profits by exploiting patients. I congratulate the @DHFWKA Principal Secretary, the Commissioner of Food Safety & Drug Administration and the entire team whose investigation brought this issue to light. I also thank our friends from media for raising public awareness.

When I took charge as Karnataka's Health Minister, I received complaints that essential cancer medicines were being sold at inflated prices. I directed the Drugs Control Division of the Department of Health & Family Welfare to investigate. The statewide inquiry found that medicines costing only a few hundred rupees to manufacture were being sold with trade margins of 15% to 52%, and in some cases even higher. We submitted detailed cost and market price data for more than 253 cancer medicines to the Union Department of Pharmaceuticals and urged decisive intervention. Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri D.K. Shivakumar also directed us to take the matter up with the Union Government. Today, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins on cancer medicines at 30%. I welcome this decision, which will bring much-needed relief to patients and their families. I congratulate the @DHFWKA Principal Secretary, the Commissioner of Food Safety & Drug Administration and the entire team whose investigation brought this issue to the forefront. I also thank the media for highlighting this critical public health concern. Cancer patients must not be forced to fight both the disease and the burden of unaffordable medicines. Our Department will continue inspecting hospitals and medical shops to ensure compliance with the new price limits. Any violation will invite strict action under the law, without exception.

Karnataka's Asha Kirana: WHO Recognises a Model for People Centred Eye Care   On #WorldSightDay, I released the World Health Organization's report, Advancing Integrated, People Centred Eye Care, which documents Karnataka's #AshaKirana initiative as a successful model for integrating eye care into the public health system. Built with one mission, to prevent and reduce avoidable blindness, Asha Kirana tackles its two leading causes uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts. Through door-to-door screenings, our ASHA workers and health teams identify those who need care and connect them to free spectacles, treatment and surgery.   Across Karnataka programme has delivered: 
🔹 2.2 crore primary eye screenings
🔹 8.5 lakh free spectacles
🔹 8.61  lakh cataract surgeries                                                                                                                                           A major milestone is the establishment of 393 Drishti Kendras(Vision Centres) as a permanent part of Karnataka's public health system. Located in community health centres, taluk hospitals and district hospitals, these centres are linked to secondary facilities for cataract surgery and complex eye conditions. They bring quality eye care closer to communities while strengthening equity, accessibility and long-term sustainability.   Karnataka is among the progressive states working towards a blindness-free future, and our approach can now inform and inspire similar efforts elsewhere. This is a path breaking initiative that has the potential to serve as a model for emulation across the globe. I thank the WHO for this recognition and our @DHFWKA doctors, ASHA workers and health staff who carry this mission to every doorstep. Together, we move towards a blindness free Karnataka.

In the early hours of the morning, at 3:00 AM, I walked into Channapatna Government Hospital unannounced to assess its facilities and night-time functioning. I reviewed the ICU, wards, sanitation, availability of medicines, and attendance of night-duty staff. And also spoke with patients and their families to understand their experiences and concerns. Clear instructions have been issued to ensure that essential medicines and services are provided free of cost, without delay or inconvenience. Irrespective of the hour, anyone who visits a government hospital must receive quality treatment and timely care, and be treated with dignity. Our commitment to the health and well being of the people of Karnataka remains unwavering.

Thanks for your concern Let the facts be stated clearly: It was the Karnataka Government that busted this fake drug racket, one of the biggest crackdowns of its kind in the entire country. On August 18, our Health & Family Welfare Department (@DHFWKA)and the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration raided a farmhouse near the Bidadi Toll Gate and seized suspected fake and expired medicines worth nearly ₹5 crore. Our preliminary investigation has revealed a deeply concerning modus operandi with interstate ramifications. This network was procuring cheap bulk drugs from manufacturing hubs in Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, refilling them into new vials at the Bidadi facility, and relabelling them as premium imported brands of multinational companies, including Pfizer counterfeit drugs meant for patients and ICU wards. We did not wait a single day. On August 19, After discussion with Hon‘ble CM @DKShivakumar & Home minister @PriyankKharge constituted a six-member SIT headed by a senior IPS officer to lead a major inter-state investigation, with officers of the Food Safety & Drug Administration and Commercial Taxes Departments on the team. Action taken so far: 🔹The full list of spurious and counterfeit drugs has been communicated to the Union Government and all State Governments. 🔹 Every hospital and nursing home in Karnataka has been directed not to use the seized medicines. 🔹On 19th August, I have written in detail to Union Health Minister Shri @JPNadda seeking the support of CDSCO and central regulatory agencies to map this network's supply chain and stop nationwide distribution. 🔹 The SIT and Drugs Control Department raided Krupa Healthcare near Minerva Circle, Bengaluru & its owner has been arrested along with seizure of suspected counterfeit medicines. The SIT is now investigating the suspected supply of counterfeit medicines and ICU injections to hospitals and clinics in Bengaluru. The investigation is underway, and I will place the complete findings before the public once it concludes. We will track down every link in their network, dismantle it brick by brick and ensure every person responsible faces the harshest punishment under law. There will be no mercy for anyone who profits from patient's desperation. Karnataka Government will Safeguard Its Patients. That is not just a promise. It is also warning to every counterfeiter in this country.