New Delhi, April 1: CPM and Shiva Sena on Friday demanded that the government withdraw the “steep hike” in the wholesale prices of more that 800 essential drugs.
Raising the issue in the Upper House during Zero Hour, CPM MP John Brittas said that the prices of essential medicines have never been hiked this much at one go. “The life of a common man is becoming tough and much more difficult.
People are reeling under price rise. The wholesale prices of more than 800 drugs essential for our survival is being increased by 11%. This is unprecedented. There was no such steep increase in the past”, said John Brittas. He said that the prices of almost all the essential drugs, which are for fever, infection, heart disease and anemia, have been increased.
“Last year the increase was only 0.53%, in 2020 it was 1.88%… even if you look at previous years, there was no such steep hike in the price of essential drugs. I would urge upon the government to withdraw the hike,” he said. Brittas said that the whole country is passing through a health emergency.
The CPM Member said that he was sick in the past couple of days and he was able to avail the CGHS facility. “But think about the vast chunk of our population who doesn’t have any social security or health insurance. This should have been avoided by any sensitive government. But there is a gross insensitivity shown to the people”, he said.
Extending her support to the CPM leader, Shiva Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that “the hike is in violation of the principles of our fundamental rights”. “Petrol is costlier, diesel is costlier, cooking is costlier. Now the medicines have also become costlier. Cost of living is increasing every single day. Medicines are essential and the people have the right to health. That has been part of our fundamental rights. It’s in violation of the principles of our fundamental rights Sir,” Chaturvedi said.
“I urge you that this insensitive government has been increasing price every single day, should at least consider these common drugs which are useful for every single individuals in this country,” Chaturvedi added.
