LAHORE: The Lahore High Court requested a response from the interim federal administration on Thursday, suspending the implementation of a notification over a recent hike in the cost of life-saving medications.
Muhammad Aslam, a citizen, petitioned for the injunction, and Justice Shahid Karim granted it.
The petitioner’s attorney contended that the caretaker administration lacked the authority or duty to raise drug costs. It was a legitimately elected government’s mandate, he said.
He drew attention to the fact that the interim administration changed the Drug Act of 1976 and gave up its authority to control drug prices. He claimed that the decision made by the caretaker cabinet was unlawful and might be overturned.
He said that up to 146 life-saving medications, including those for cancer and antibiotics, had seen price increases. He stated that the pharmaceutical corporations were also allowed by the government to independently raise the pricing of more than a hundred medications.
He requested that the court invalidate the announcement of the new drug costs on the grounds that it was unconstitutional.
The government was ordered to provide a response by the following week, and the judge barred the government from enforcing the notification.
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
