Can the medicine for treatment of rare disorder spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) be made available at lower price in India if it is supplied to the neighboring countries Pakistan and China at a cheaper rate, the Supreme Court has sought to know from the manufacturer of the drug, Risdiplam.A benchmark of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan sought to know the response of the drug The attorney for a 24-year-old woman with a rare disease SMA in Group III told the drug was cheaper at M/s. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, then Indian drug manufacturer.
“In view of the nature of the dispute, we believe that it is appropriate to issue notice to M/s. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. in India as well,” the bench ordered.
At a hearing on Friday, senior advocate Anand Grover told SEBA’s bench that the drug prices for SMA patients are cheaper in Pakistan and China because governments in these countries intervened in the drug.
Grover believes why the Indian government cannot negotiate with global drug manufacturers to make drugs for rare diseases available at a lower rate. The Supreme Court listed the matter on April 8 after noting the facts suffered by several patients suffering from the disease in India. The bench said its interim order on February 24 will last until the next hearing date.
On February 24, the Supreme Court retained the Kerala High Court order requiring the centre to provide medicines (24) worth Rs 1.8 lakh to SEBA (24), over Rs 5 lakh, with those patients entitled to obtain under the central government plan. The center is close to the Supreme Court, challenging the orders of the High Court.
“The judgment of the judgment shall be suspended until the next hearing date. However, where legally permitted, the petitioner will be open to the petitioner to review the request made on behalf of defendant No. 1 (SEBA),” at the same time, the woman also requested that the woman also attempt to arrange treatment from other sources.
“This will also be open to the first respondent, SEBA PA and the Union of India to keep in touch with the companies that make the subject’s drugs in order to provide financial treatment for patients with the disease, i.e., spinal muscle atrophy,” the bench said. The Supreme Court allowed the woman to send a copy of the court order to the company that is manufacturing the above drugs and requested that the drug be provided at a preferential rate.
