The High Court on Sunday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why it will not be directed to take steps against those responsible for selling essential
medicines at excessive prices, reports UNB. An HC bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain came up with the rule in response to a
writ petition filed in the form of Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Four lawyers of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh lodged the petition challenging the legality
of raising the prices of essential medicines by the companies. In the petition, the lawyers said companies hiked the prices of their medicines at the end of November
last year without issuing any advertisement, inflicting sufferings on the consumers. The health secretary, the chairman of National Drugs Advisory Council, the
director general of Directorate General of Health Services and three others have been made respondents to the rule. In the rule, the court also sought to know why
administrative failures and inactiveness in controlling price hike of medicines will not be declared ‘illegal’. It also asked why the government will not be directed
to take steps to control medicine prices.
Courtesy of UNB/The News Today
