SC seeks Centre's reply on cheaper medicines for rare spinal disorder

THE Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre and the manufacturer of the drug Risdiplam, which is used for the treatment of the rare disorder spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), whether the medication can be offered at a lower price in India, if it is supplied to the neighbouring countries, such as Pakistan and China, at a cheaper rate.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justices Sanjay Kumar, and K V Viswanathan sought a response from the Centre and the drug manufacturer on the issue.

The court was apprised about the drug prices from the senior counsel, Anand Grover, appearing for a 24-year-old woman from Kerala, Seba, suffering from a Group III rare disease—SMA. The drug was being sold at a cheaper rate by M/s. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, the drug manufacturer, in Pakistan and China compared to India.