Monopoly of companies depriving public from lifesaving drugs: CJ

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: The two member bench comprising of Chief Justice Peshawar High Court (PHC) Justice Qaiser Rashid and Justice Syed Arshad Ali directed Federal Secretary for Health to appear before court on 23 September in case regarding increase in prices of life saving drugs, on Wednesday.
During hearing Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid remarked that due to monopoly of different companies had deprived poor people from purchasing of lifesaving drugs. He added that government had ignored the sector because no policy has been constituted to address the issue from four to five years.
The writ petitions were filed by Member Provincial Assembly Nighat Orakzai, Malak Muhammad Ajmal Advocate and Saifullah Mohib Kakakhel advocate along with others. The honorable court had issued certain directions in different times during hearing of the petitions.
Deputy Attorney General Asghar Kundi on behalf of federation, provincial government representative Additional Advocate General Muhammad Sohail, Senior lawyer Tayyab Khan, Assistant Director Drugs Regulatory Authority Hafiz Bilal, Barrister Waqar and Mehwish Mohib Kakakhel Advocate appeared before court in the case.
During hearing Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid remarked that poor people cannot afford lifesaving drugs due to high rates of medicines, inflation and economic hurdles. He added government had ignored from the sector from last four to five years because no policy has been constituted in this regard.
Unfortunately government did not taking contract step for manufacturing of medicines locally which is importing from foreign countries, CJ PHC Justice Qaiser remarked.
On informing PHC that in June 2021 a policy was forwarded to federation in this regard, CJ Qaiser remarked that government must have mechanism for controlling prices of medicine and laboratory tests. He inquired that if we can manufacture medicines locally then why ingredients and raw materials for important lifesaving medicines?
Further Chief Justice remarked that federal must took interest in the case because it is public issue and added that government must control prices of medicines because poor people have no money to afford medicine.
The two-member bench comprising of Chief Justice PHC Justice Qaiser Rashid and Justice Arshad Ali directed Federal Secretary for Health to appear on 23 September before court.