HC seeks govt explanation over drug price hike
HC seeks govt explanation over drug price hike
The High Court today asked the government to explain in three weeks why its failure to control prices of drugs should not be declared illegal.
The court also asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to control the prices of medicines.
A HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain came up with the rule in response to a writ petition recently filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) seeking HC directives to control increasing prices of drugs.
The bench also directed the health secretary to submit all relevant documents and particulars of the Drug Control Committee and National Drug Advisory Council to the court in seven days.
The court sought the documents to examine rules regarding fixing the drug prices.
In the petition, HRPB said that drug companies reportedly doubled the prices of medicine last year 'illogically' violating relevant laws.
Therefore, many poor people have been deprived of treatment, the petition said.