Sirsi: The Janaushadhi Kendra set up on the premises of the Pandit General Hospital in Sirsi has been kept closed from February 21 due to administrative and technical reasons, said Venkatesh Naik, executive director of Scodwes, an NGO which was looking after the Janaushadhi Kendra.

In a press release, Naik said that the Janaushadhi Kendra in Pandit General Hospital premises was set up in October with an intention to help the poor patients by providing medicines at an affordable cost. But the centre has been closed down temporarily due to non-supply of essential medicines, administrative and technical pressure being exerted by Hospital administrative medical officer Gajanan Bhat and non-cooperation from the officers for maintaining the Kendra.

The matter had been brought to the notice of centre superintendent, deputy commissioner and the officers of the Health & Family Welfare Department. But in the meeting held at the taluk medical officer’s office recently, Dr Gajanan Bhat outrightly said that there was no connection between the hospital and the Janaushadhi Kendra. Hence, the Kendra will be kept closed until the matter is resolved, Naik said.

Responding to this, Gajanan Bhat said that he was not aware of the administrative and technical reasons that the Janaushadhi Kendra in-charge mentioned.