Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing Of Case Regarding Increase In Price Of Medicines

The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned hearing of a suo moto notice case regarding increase in the price of life saving drugs till Thursday.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Feb, 2018 ) :The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned hearing of a suo moto notice case regarding increase in the price of life saving drugs till Thursday.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case. During the course of proceedings, the counsel for the Pharmaceutical companies informed that they had submitted the list of cases pending in different courts.

On which the chief justice remarked that the court will explain Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) policy . Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that if price of a medicine had been increased by eight percent then the for further eight percent increase why the court was not informed.

The counsel for Pharmaceutical companies informed that DRAP had to decide the applications of pharmaceutical companies within 90 days failing which the prices were increased by eight percent automatically.

The chief justice remarked that if Pharmaceutical company and DRAP join hands, the patient would have to suffer. The court sought recommendations to resolve the pending cases of Pharmaceutical companies and DRAP.

The court also sought a formula to resolve all the issues including formulation of policy for prices of medicines.

The chief justice remarked that the prices of medicines were lower in India but the quality of medicines was an issue in India whereas Pakistan had markets but with low standard medicines.

The chief justice asked the Pharmaceutical companies to earn reasonable profit and directed DRAP to determine the prices after market survey. The chief justice remarked that the court wanted to give a good news for masses by resolving the issue of medicines.

Secretary National Health Services Regulations and coordination informed the court that the government was ready to resolve all the issues and the issue of medicine prices had also discussed in the meeting of Federal cabinet.

The Secretary Health Department Sindh said that Sindh government had issued SRO for medicine prices in 2017 but Sindh High Court issued stay orders on which the chief justice remarked that the lower judiciary and high court would not be a hurdle for the functioning of the department in the matter.

The chief justice remarked that that the court would decide regarding annual increase in the prices of medicines. He asked that all stake holders should sit together and formulate a roadmap to resolve the issue.