Why discriminatory pricing of heart rings not illegal: HC

The High Court has issued a ruling to investigate the legality of the discriminatory pricing of a modern stent (heart ring) used in heart treatment in the country. 

The High Court bench comprising Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Raziq Al Jalil issued this rule on Monday. 

The defendants have been given two weeks to respond to the ruling. 

The ruling comes in response to a public interest writ petition filed with the High Court. 

The Department of Drug Administration had set the market price of heart rings on December 12, and India's National Drug Pricing Authority had set the price of stents in their country on March 31. 

A comparison of the prices in the two countries shows that the cost of quality stents in Bangladesh is at most three times higher than in India. 

A writ was filed on Sunday challenging the Directorate of Drug Administration's pricing by 11 importers, claiming it is discriminatory. 

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Director General of the Department of Drug Administration, and seven institutions have been named as defendants in the writ. 

Barrister Muhammad Humayan Kabir heard on behalf of the petitioners in the court. He was assisted by Advocate Bayezid Hossain, Naeem Sardar and Barrister Solaiman Tushar.

In this regard, he said the pricing is discriminatory and will limit the ability of companies to import heart rings, leading to market monopolies and difficulties for the general public.

/MHK/