The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the Centre over its failure to bring all medicines under price control, asking why economic interests should weigh over citizens’ lives and why pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to charge high prices for essential drugs.
The court, however, pointed out that the decision came only after its intervention. The Centre informed the court about its decision to cap trade margins on 137 anti-cancer drugs at 30% of the MRP, expected to save patients around ₹ 2,500 crore annually.
The court also criticised the Centre’s affidavit for not addressing three parliamentary committee reports on drug pricing. ASG Bhati informed the court that the government has ensured to make generic drugs available to people through the PM Jan Aushadi Kendras and that the government calibrates prices of non-scheduled drugs.
“Your affidavit is silent on them (reports) because it is not very convenient to you,” it said. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for a body of private hospitals said the private health sector became relevant as the state was not found to be up to the mark. He said that if the court feels that the margin of money is pocketed by hospitals, a panel can be formed to seek the truth.
