Justice Chandrachud said, “What you are saying is music to my ears. This is exactly the drug that I had when I had Covid recently. This is a serious issue and we will look into it.”
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday said it is a “serious issue” after an NGO and CBDT said the makers of Dolo tablets had distributed freebies worth Rs 1,000 crore to doctors so that they prescribe the 650 milligram anti-inflammatory, fever reducer drug to patients.
Senior advocate Sanjay Parikh and advocate Aparna Bhat representing Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association of India told the bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and A S Bopanna that market prices of tablet up to 500 mg are regulated under a price control mechanism of the government but prices of drugs above 500 mg can be fixed by the pharma companies.
Advocate Parikh alleged that to ensure a higher profit margin, the company also distributed freebies to the doctors to prescribe the medicine. Parikh also said he would like to bring more such facts to the knowledge of the court after a response is filed by the Centre.
Justice Chandrachud said, “What you are saying is music to my ears. This is exactly the drug that I had when I had Covid recently. This is a serious issue and we will look into it.”
The court then asked Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj to file his response in ten days. It also gave one week time thereafter to the petitioner to file a rejoinder. The apex court listed the matter for further hearing on September 29.
On July 13, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had accused the makers of the Dolo-650 tablet of indulging in “unethical practices” and distributing freebies worth about Rs 1,000 crore to doctors and medical professionals in exchange for promoting products made by the pharmaceutical group.