The High Court on Wednesday issued a verdict directing to pay a total compensation of Tk15.60 crore to the families of 104 children who died after consuming adulterated paracetamol.
Each victim's family will get Tk15 lakh. In the verdict, the court ordered the formation of an independent national anti-counterfeit drug committee.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil released the nine-page verdict on Wednesday.
In that judgement, the court gave eight directions. These are –
- The Constitution declares the fundamental right of every person to free medical facilities and this right includes the right to life.
- Opponents are directed to take all necessary steps to stop adulteration of medicines across the country and to take legal action under Special Powers Act 25(c).
- The deaths of 76 children in 1991 and 28 in 2009 are a heavy burden for drug administration authorities.
- The drug administration authorities are directed to compensate each family of 76 children in 1991 and 28 children in 2009 at the rate of Tk15 lakhs. (Directorate General of Drug Administration can collect the compensation money from the respective responsible person or drug company.)
- An independent national counterfeit drugs committee is ordered to be formed.
- The respondents are directed to consider the suggestions made in the supplementary affidavit filed by the petitioner on June 2, 2022.
- The National Medicines Policy 2016 is suggested for speedy implementation, according to the additionally published Bangladesh Gazette on March 23, 2017.
- It has been suggested to create a medical service infrastructure for the people of our country based on the model of the UK.
The court directed the registrar general of the Supreme Court to send a copy of the verdict to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Earlier, on June 2, 2022, the High Court ordered compensation of Tk15 lakh to each family in the death of 104 children due to the consumption of adulterated paracetamol.
Writ petitioner Manzil Morsed said: "In 1991, 76 children died after consuming adulterated paracetamol syrup and in 2009, 28 children died after consuming Reed Pharma's paracetamol."
In 2010, the environmental and human rights organization Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking a symbol of public interest, adding to the report published in the daily newspaper.
In the same year, the High Court heard and ruled on the question of inaction and compensation of drug administration.
The High Court gave this verdict after the final hearing of Justice Md Iman Ali and Justice Obaidul Hasan (current chief justice).
