Punjab assembly passes resolution to regulate expensive medicines

The Punjab Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution recommending the state government to cap the profit margins on medicines charged by private players.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle recommended the state to take up with the Centre the "looting" of people by exorbitantly priced medicines.

Raising the matter in the ongoing budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, some members suggested capping of profit margins on medicines, while many others, mainly from opposition, demanded strengthening of the government health sector in the state.

As he moved the resolution in the House, AAP MLA from Chamkaur Sahib, Dr Charanjit Singh, said exorbitant rates of medicines was robbing people of their money forcing many people to sell their properties to afford costly medicines.

Not only chemists, but several known private hospitals are selling medicines at higher prices than MRP, said Singh, adding that the matter was not peculiar to Punjab, but afflicts the whole country.

He said ..