Belagavi: Health Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar has said that strict action will be taken against Medical Officers found stocking expired medicines.

Replying to a question by MLC Ramachandra Gowda at the Legislature Council here yesterday, Ramesh Kumar said that the Government has set a rule against storing or stocking expired medicines. As such, action will be taken against erring medical officers found guilty of storing expired medicines, he said.

Pointing out that he has directed the Government doctors not to prescribe branded drugs, he said that action will be taken against those officers who encourage patients to buy medicines from private pharmacies, rather than purchasing them from Janaushadhi centres.

He further said that 200 more Janaushadhi centres will be set up across the State shortly.