Mangaluru, Aug 22: The Karnataka government is considering setting up dedicated ‘Watch Teams’ at the district and taluk levels to strengthen surveillance against unsafe food and counterfeit medicines, Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, Khader said the government has introduced a QR-code-based system through which the public can report complaints related to food safety and fake medicines. The QR code will be displayed prominently outside hotels, restaurants and medical stores across the state.

The initiative has already generated a significant response, with more than 400 complaints being received within just two days of its launch, the minister said. Food safety officials are following up on the complaints by visiting the reported locations and conducting inspections.

Khader said existing government officials have the authority to carry out inspections within their respective jurisdictions. However, given the need for sustained monitoring and greater public participation, the government is exploring a broader community-based surveillance mechanism.

Under the proposed system, Watch Teams could comprise retired government officials, former professors, subject experts and senior citizens willing to contribute to social service. The teams may also be given specific powers to assist in monitoring and reporting violations, subject to the provisions of law.

“The initiative has to be implemented on a wider scale, and public awareness must be sustained continuously,” Khader said, adding that the government will examine the legal framework before taking a final decision.

On the growing concern over counterfeit medicines, Khader said the problem could extend beyond Karnataka’s borders. Fake medicines manufactured in other states could potentially be transported into Karnataka, making inter-state coordination essential to tackling the racket.

Referring to the recent detection of a counterfeit medicine manufacturing unit near Bidadi, the minister said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to conduct a comprehensive probe into the network and its operations.