Govt to set prices of all life-saving medicines

Staff Reporter :

The High Court has ruled that the government will set the prices of all life-saving medicines.
The High Court declared invalid the 1994 circular that restricted the government’s power to regulate prices of life-saving medicines. It has directed that, in the interest of public health protection, the government must determine the prices of all essential life-saving drugs.

The judgment was delivered on Monday by a High Court bench comprising Justice Md. Rezaul Hasan and Justice Biswajit Debnath. The verdict announced, relates to a case decided on August 25 this year.

Senior Advocate Monzil Morshed stated in court that as medicines are essential for saving lives, any uncontrolled price hike directly affects citizens’ right to life. Therefore, the 1994 circular limiting the government’s power is against fundamental rights.

The legal challenge against the price control circular was filed in 2018 as a public interest petition by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). Following lengthy hearings after the issuance of the rule, the High Court bench delivered this significant ruling.