The Odisha government has instructed campus medicine stores operating within public health institutions across the state to vacate their premises following an order from the Orissa High Court.

These campus medicine stores had challenged a communication issued by the health and family welfare department on February 27, 2015. According to this communication, no extension of licenses for on-campus medical stores would be granted, and no new campus medical stores would be allowed to open.

Despite the expiration of their license agreements, these campus medicine stores continued to operate under interim orders from the high court. However, on April 19, the high court dismissed all writ petitions filed by these stores.

In light of this development, the health and family welfare department issued directives on Thursday to authorities at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, VIMSAR Burla, and chief district medical and public health officers of 24 districts to serve "vacation notices" to the campus medicine shops. The shops have been given a 15-day period to vacate the premises.

"You are further directed to take all possible steps in accordance with the law to recover possession of the premises immediately after the expiry of the 15 days period," stated Shalini Pandit, the department secretary, in a letter.

There are a total of 101 campus medicine shops listed by the department, located in primary health centers (PHCs), community health centers (CHCs), sub-divisional hospitals (SDHs), district headquarters hospitals (DHHs), and medical college and hospitals (MCHs). Some of these shops have already been closed. The remaining stores will be vacated promptly, as per a statement from a health department official.