Delhi High Court Calls For High Level Meeting For Assessing Demand, Modalities For Importing And Supply Of Tocilizumab In India

Delhi High Court on Thursday called for a high level meeting for assessing the demand for Tocilizumab in India and also to discuss the modalities for import and supply of the drug as per the expected demand and further logistics for its placing orders.

A single judge bench comprising of Justice Pratibha Singh was dealing with a petition filed by brother of one Sudhir Kumar Agarwal, a covid 19 patient admitted in Malik Radix Health Care Hospital, Nirman Vihar, New Delhi praying for directions on GNCTD and Union of India to urgently supply the Tocilizumab injection - Actemra 400 mg to the said hospital, so that the same can be administered to the patient urgently.

"A high level meeting shall be called by the official(s) of the Department of Pharmaceuticals and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Mr. Rajiv Wadhawan and Mr. Navdeep Rinwa and/or any of their team members, shall accordingly hold a meeting with the representatives of Roche Products (India) Pvt. Ltd. and its distributors in India, in order to communicate and assess the demand for this drug in India. They shall also discuss the modalities for import and supply of the drug as per the expected demand and further logistics for placing orders for the same." Directed the Court.

The said meeting has been directed to be held today at 12 30 PM, minutes of which shall be placed before the Court by May 9.

The Court also asked Anurag Ahluwalia, representing the Central Government to obtain instructions from the Office of the Controller General of Patents and to place on record the documents relating to the Patents that have been granted or are applicable in relation to the said drug.

The development came after Mr. Ahluwalia apprised the Court that according to the DCA Certificate issued under Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, there are various entities which have been enlisted as being involved in the manufacturing, packaging and testing of the drug.

The further submitted that the Government of India does not have any stock of the said drug and thay entire stock, which has been received by it, has been distributed to the States/UTs and other institutions.

On the other hand, Mr. Anuj Aggarwal informed the Court that 500 vials received by the Delhi Government has already been distributed and that there is no stock available with the Delhi Government of the said drug.

In view of the aforesaid submissions, the Court whole directing to call a high level meeting, posted the matter for further hearing on May 10 at 2 30 PM.

During the previous course of hearing, the Court issued a slew of directions as regards to the availability of tocilizumab drug in India which may be read here.

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