The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to stay the Central Government's provisions under the new Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO) to slash prices of essential medicines. It also directed that a supplementary revised pricelist of medicines must be supplied to retailers and drug controllers, which will be displayed in the retail shops for the consumers.
While hearing a petition filed by Cipla limited, the bench headed by Acting Chief Justice BD Ahmad said, "Cipla must publish a revised pricelist of medicines, which need to be put up by the retailers and drug controllers. No coercive action to be taken against Cipla."
In its petition, Cipla had sought directions from court to quash the new policy by the Government, which mandates the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to cap the price of over 300 drugs in the National list of essential medicines leading to slashing of price from 40-80 per cent. The ceiling price had been fixed at the simple average of all drugs in a particular formulation with a market share of one per cent.