 "Centre files petition to transfer FDC cases to SC")
The central government has moved a transfer petition related to the cases where pharmaceutical companies have filed against ban of FDCs or Fixed Dose Combination drugs. Through the petition, the government has sought withdrawal of the pleas pending before high courts of Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Madras, so that these can be taken up by the Supreme Court.
In the first batch, cases between Pfizer, Abbott Healthcare, Macleods Pharmaceuticals, All Kerala Chemists Association are expected to come up.
The controversy arose after the central government issued a notification on March 10 pursuant to the Doctor Kokate Committee report banning 344 FDCs, prompting most large pharmaceutical manufacturers including Pfizer, Abbott, GlaxoSmithKline and Cipla to immediately challenge the move in the Delhi High Court.
The petitions pertain to ban on sale of Abbott's Tixylix toddler syrup and Phensedyl cough syrup ,Pfizer's cough syrup 'Corex' ,as well as Macleods' Panderm Plus ointment.
The Health Ministry, through a gazette notification, banned over 300 fixed dose combination drugs, including cough syrups compositions, saying they involve "risk" to humans and safer alternatives were available. The two pharmaceuticals sought quashing of Centre's March 10 notification and urged the court to call the records including the expert committee.