Delhi HC sets aside Centre's ban on 344 drugs

The Delhi High Court on Thursday agreed with pharmaceutical companies and set side the Centre's notification on banning of 344 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs

It maybe recalled that pharmaceutical companies had challenged the Centre's notification in the high court.

In all, 454 petitions were filed by these companies before the high court,challenging the Centre's decision to ban 344 fixed dose combination (FDC) medicines, including well known brands like Corex cough syrup, Vicks Action 500 extra and D'Cold.

Delhi High Court Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw on June 2 had reserved the order after hearing regular arguments of companies like Pfizer, Glenmark, Procter and Gamble and Cipla, the Centre and some NGOs like All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) over a span of over two months, starting from March 14.

The court had on March 14 stayed the Centre's March 10 ban on 344 FDC drugs and this interim order was passed in each and every case filed before it thereafter.

During arguments, the drug companies had contended that the government has not properly implemented the powers under Section 26A (Power to Prohibit Manufacture of Drugs and Cosmetics in Public Interest) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, under which the ban was ordered.