Bangalore, July 24, 2012

Special Correspondent

It was a bad day for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which faced embarrassing situation when its member Sarbhouma Bagli from Indi demanded resignation of Medical Education Minister S.A. Ramdas alleging that he and his three officials were selling generic drugs to poor patients in Victoria Hospital here, fleecing exorbitant rate from them than what was charged by pharmaceutical company in the open market.

Participating in the debate on drought situation, Dr. Bagli, a retired district health officer, who also runs a hospital and medical shop in Indi, said that Citrigen, which was sold at Rs. 2.30 for 10 tablets by the company was sold at Rs. 25 at Victoria Hospital.

Similarly, Pantoprazole, 40 mg, which was available at Rs. 7.70 for 10 tablets was sold at Rs. 57.66 and fluconazole, 150 mg to treat fungal infection charged at Rs. 2.75 by the company was sold at Rs. 29 and ceftriaxone, one gm injection available at Rs. 19 was sold at Rs. 57. Dr. Bagli said that he personally purchased these drugs at Victoria Hospital Generic Drug stores, claimed by the Minister to be a great service to the poor was actually cheating patients.

Quoting from records, Dr. Bagli said that the most regrettable thing was that the Minister used the government-controlled Karnataka Cooperative Consumer Federation to indulge in such an anti-poor activity and demanded an inquiry. Till then the Minister should resign, he added.

Janata Dal (Secular) Deputy Leader Bandeppa Kashempur supported him and demanded that it be referred to the house committee.

Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and Janata Dal (Secular) H.D. Revanna demanded the Minister’s resignation and an inquiry by a competent authority. They said that the allegation was made by a doctor by profession and it was prima facie proved that the minister had indulged in irregularities.


  • ‘Generic drugs sold at rates higher than market price’
  • Opposition seeks Minister’s resignation