BHARAT KANDHARI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Rule returnable forthwith. Heard finally by consent of the parties.

(2.) This petition involves question of regulation of prices of certain drugs and medicines manufactured in India with a view that such drugs are made available to the consumers at the lowest possible price.

(3.) Mr. Naik, the learned Amicus Curiae, pointed out from Annexure-A to the petition, a list of drugs, which clearly shows a wide disparity in the prices of drugs merely because they are manufactured by different companies. The said list is reproduced below: <p>DRUG NAME COMPANY NAME QUANTITY CURRENT PRICK Cetrizine 10mg(Anti Allergic Tablet) Alzine (Core) 10's 7.80 Hicet (Micronova) 10's 14.80 Cetrizet (Sun) 10's . 34.00 Ciprofloxacin 500 mg (Antibiotic Tablets) Zoxan (FDC) 10's 44.75 Biocip (Biochem) 10's 49.95 Cifran (Ranbaxy) 10's 89.60 Flunarizine 10 mg (Migraine) Migon (LeSante) 10's 19.90 Migraid (Cipla) 10's 20.25 Siblium (Johnson & Johnson) 10's 52.00 Gabapentin 300 mg (Anticonvulsant) Gabapin (Instas) 10's 98.00 Neurontin (Pfizer) 10's 312.87 Gliclazide 80 mg(Anti Diabetic) Glycor (USV) 10's 23.65 Lycazid (Jagsonpal) 10's 31.00 Diamicron (Serdia) 10's 63.00 Reflunomide 10 mg (Used in Rhumatoid Arthritis) Rumalet" (ZydusCadila) 10's 80 Arava (Aventis) 10's 440.00 Levocetrizine 5 mg (Antiallergic) 1-AL (FDC) 10's 9.50 Airitis (NPIL) 10's 35.65 Vozet (GSK) 10's 46.00 Ofloxacin 200 mg (Antibiotic) ZO FDC 10's 29.00 Zocin Winsame 10's 39.00 Z-Flox Zota Pharma 10's 51.90 Varflox Zota HC 10's "DO Tarivid Aventis 10's 310.64 Pioglitazone 15 m g (Antidiabetic) K-Pio Blue Cross 10's 9.00 Diaglit Biochem 10's 18.00 Bioglita Biochem 10's 19.98 Fepar Glenmark 10's 22.70 Oglo Panacea 10's 37.00 Ploz usv 10's 50.00 Plozone NIPL 10's 60.00 Ramipril 5 mg(Anti hypertensive) Odipril (Blue Cross) 10's 23.00 Ziram (FDC) 10's 34.00 Hopecard (Aristo) 10's 49.20 Topril (Torrent) 10's 70.16 Ramey (ZydusCadila) 10's 82.50 Cardace (Sanoti Avantis) 10's 97.03 Risperidone 2 r rig (Antipsychotic) Risdone (Intas) 10's , 10.40 Rapidon (RKG Pharma) 10's 13.00 Risnia (Cipla-Protec) 10's 15.50 Riosperdal (Ethnor) 10's 270.00 Thyroxine 100 meg (Thyroid Patients) Roxin (ZydusCadila) 10's 18.00 Eltroxin 10's 74.00 Valsartan 80 mg Mg (Anti Hypertensive) Valzaar (Torrent) Starval (Ranbaxy) Piovan (Novartis) Zoledronic Acid 4 mj Zolaria (Cipla) Blazetere (Dr. Reddy) Zometa (Vonartis) Valzaar (torrent) lU's 59.2U Starval (Ranbaxy) 10's 69.00 Piovan (Novartis) 10's 410.00 Zoledronic Acid 4 mg (Tumour treatment) Zolaria (Cipla) lvial 2800.00 Blazetere (Dr. Reddy) 1 vial 3299.00 Zometa (Vonartis) 1 vial 12,500.00