Supreme Court urges Union to negotiate with pharma companies to procure medicines for rare disease at low cost

The Supreme Court in the case Union Of India Versus SEBA P.A. observed and has stayed the order of the Kerala High Court, wherein the court directed the Union to procure medicines worth 18 Lakh for treatment of the rare disease- Spinal Muscular Atrophy as a one-time measure.

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The court in the case asked the Union to explore possible recourse to subsidize the drugs.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice of India, CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing the present matter.

The bench in the case was hearing a challenge to the order of the division bench of the Kerala High Court, wherein the court clarified that the order of a single bench directing the Union to procure expensive drugs for treating a patient with a rare disease - Spinal Muscular Atrophy would not amount to a binding precedent for other similarly situated patients.

The Kerala High Court in the case was hearing the petition of a 24-year old suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, SMA, against the overpricing of the life-saving medicine, Risdiplam.