'Dolo-650 makers spent Rs 1,000 cr on docs for Prescribing drug'; SC asks Centre to file a reply

New Delhi, August 19: The Supreme Court was informed on Thursday that the maker of Dolo tablets, the 650mg version of a paracetamol pill, had given out freebies worth Rs 1,000 crore to doctors to prescribe their drug. The SC described it as a “serious issue” matter.

 

 

Citing Dolo as an example, the petitioner Federation of Medical Representatives of India (FMRAI) is seeking an action from the Centre to prevent what they described as unethical marketing practices by the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Appearing for the petitioner FMRAI, Senior Advocate Sanjay Parikh and advocate Aparna Bhat told the SC bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna that the price of the drug above 500 mg can be fixed by a pharma company. However, for a tablet up to 500 mg, the market price is regulated under the price control mechanism of the government.

 

 

 

Advocate Parikh further added that the maker of the Dolo 650 tablets gave out freebies so that doctors promote their drug, in order to ensure a higher profit margin.

 

Justice Chandrachud also shared that he had been recommended the same drug when he had contracted Covid-19. “This is not music to my ears. I was also asked to have the same when I had Covid-19. This is a serious issue and matter,” he said.

 

The FMRAI PIL is seeking directions to make pharma companies liable for giving freebies to doctors and to give statutory backing to the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP).

 

The apex court bench has asked additional solicitor general KM Nataraj to file his response to the plea by the petitioner in 10 days and gave a week’s time thereafter to the latter for their response. The next hearing will be on September 29.