SC to examine new drug pricing policy

A bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi granted two weeks time to the Centre to issue notification and posted the matter for hearing on December 12.

Additional Solicitor General Siddharth Luthra informed the court that the Cabinet had approved the policy that will bring 348 essential drugs under price control on November 22 and it will soon be notified.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation plea filed in 2003 by All India Drugs Action Network and others which had complained that currently only around 78 drugs are placed under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 (DPCO) making rest of the medicines beyond the reach of the common man.

Referring to media reports about the new policy, the petitioner submitted that price of essential medicines will go up after its notification.

But the bench said it would not go by the media reports and said it would examine the policy itself after the same is notified.

The apex court had set November 27 as deadline for the government to finalise the policy while asking it not to alter the existing mechanism of cost-based drug pricing.