Why monitoring cell on drugs should not be formed

The High Court (HC) Tuesday issued a rule upon the government to explain as to why it should not be directed to form a monitoring cell to stop manufacturing and marketing of adulterated drugs in the country.

A HC bench also wanted to know as to why it should not direct the government to prepare price-list of the drugs of the country's different companies.

The HC bench comprising Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar issued the rule following a writ petition.

The court also sought explanation as to why the list of medicines sold from the pharmacies without prescription of the doctors should not be made; and as to why the government should not be directed to publish the list of drugs, supplied to different public hospitals, in the daily newspapers.

The law secretary, health secretary, director general of the drug administration and director general of the health directorate were made respondents to reply to the rule within two weeks, the court sources said.

A Supreme Court lawyer, JR Khan Rabin, filed the writ petition on December 17, 2013.

Barrister Md Bodruddoza argued for the petitioner in the court and deputy attorney general Al-Amin Sarker represented the government.

Earlier on January 12, the HC in a separate writ petition issued a rule upon the government on its failure to control the higher prices of drugs in the country.

The HC also directed the health secretary to submit the drug price control-related papers before it within seven-day time. However, concerned lawyers Sunday said, "The health secretary is yet to submit the papers before the HC, despite the seven-day deadline expired a week ago."