Dolo-650 Maker Calls Freebie Charge 'Impossible', Says 'Only Did Rs 350 Cr in Sales Amid Covid'

Micro Labs Limited, the Bengaluru-based company which manufactures the paracetamol tablet Dolo-650, has dismissed allegations that it had given freebies worth Rs 1,000 crore to doctors in order to promote its medicine. “It wasn’t just Dolo 650; other Covid protocol drugs like Vitamin C and vitamin combinations also performed exceptionally well during Covid,” he added. The plea said: “Petitioners seek enforcement of the fundamental right to health enshrined in the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India in view of the ever-increasing instances of unethical marketing practices by Pharmaceutical Companies in their dealings with healthcare professionals resulting in prescription of excessive and/or irrational drugs and a push for high-cost and/or over-priced brands, which are practices that directly affect citizens’ health, violating their rights under Article 21 of Constitution.” The plea contended that it is high time that the lacuna in ensuring the right to health is urgently filled up by an appropriate legislation. “As violations of this kind have become a recurring phenomenon and are progressively becoming more pervasive, the petitioners pray that a Statutory Code of ethical marketing for the pharmaceutical industry, with penal consequences, be established to curb such practices for the enforcement of the fundamental Right to Health of the people of India,” added the plea.