The firms were selling medicines at rates higher than those fixed by the Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA). PHOTO: FILE
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to around two dozen pharmaceutical companies for selling medicines at rates higher than those fixed by the Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA).
A two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, was hearing a case against the rise in different medicines’ prices by as many as 22 pharmaceutical companies
The court issued notices to these companies after Deputy Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti provided a list of pharmaceutical companies, which had secured stay orders from different high courts against the prices fixed by the DRA and were selling different medicines on higher prices.
“Although the DRA has fixed prices of the medicines, the pharmaceutical companies are selling them at increased prices. This is against some of the Articles of the Constitution as well as fundamental rights,” Bhatti told the court.
According to the list, M/s Highnoon Laboratories Lahore tops the list. The company, after getting restraining order from Sindh High Court, is selling different drugs at prices as much as 471% and 421% higher than the prescribed selling price.
The list says the company’s sells its Budevair 400 Rotacap and Budevair 200 Rotacap capsules at Rs1,040 and Rs 755; while their fixed prices are just Rs182 and Rs145, respectively.
Another company Epla Laboratories Karachi sells its Bacimix Powder and Bacimix Ointment (15gm) at Rs66.56 and Rs114.46 while the prices fixed by the DRA for the drugs are Rs20 and Rs50, respectively.
According to the list, M/s Pharmatec Pakistan is selling Fastum Gel (30mg) at an inflated price of Rs257 while its DRA recommended price is Rs115.
Similarly M/s W Woodwards Karachi after getting a restraining order from Lahore High Court on July 28, 2011 is selling its Gripe Water – the widely used item for infants – at an increased price of Rs55, a price 38% higher than its DRA approved price of Rs40.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2013.
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Just a thought, what kind of quality will these medicines have if they are subject to price caps?
Frankly, as I see from the article above, there is a BIG price gap in the price set by the DRA and selling price of the company.
I do hope the difference is not only due to the notion of maximizing profits.