Karnataka government would take stern action against manufacturers and distributors of spurious drugs and has taken measures to streamline the functioning of blood banks in the state, stated health and family minister R. Ashok.

At the launch of a consumer awareness programme on drugs sale and blood banks, the health minister said, "The state would not allow manufacture and sale of spurious and counterfeit drugs. The state, known to have taken stern action against such offenders, is currently facing the problem of shortage of drug inspectors to effectively counter the menace. However, ample efforts have been taken to check sale of counterfeit drugs."

As a precautionary measure to ensure the ban on sale of counterfeit drugs, the Karnataka drugs control department recently organized an awareness programme, conducted with a financial assistance of Rs. 26 lakh from the state government under the Information Communication and Education (IEC) project of the directorate of health and family welfare.

The Karnataka drugs control department has compiled a list of rules to be adhered by the drug stores, blood banks and the public. The over 20,000 posters captioned as 'Ten Golden Principles' for safe medication, have been distributed to the public. The posters detail tips on checking the expiry dates, need of receipt for drug purchase, blood donation etc.

Sale of blood in blood banks has also been included in the projects of IEC. The education material provides procedures on what is expected from blood recipients and donors. The drugs department has also made it obligatory for all blood banks to provide refreshments to blood donors after blood donation even at camps and also insist on haemoglobin count report. The recipient or his relative must also ensure that while blood is transfused, the blood group must be verified, as wrong blood groups can be fatal for patients. All these precautions are meant to educate both the donor and the recipient, stated government officials.