Plea to declare sanitary napkins as essential item:

News:
  • Union Ministry of Health and Family welfare submitted an affidavit in Bombay High Court against the PIL that sought to recognise sanitary napkins as an essential commodity.
Background:
  • The PIL filed by a law student have sought implementation of “the Menstrual Hygiene Management National Guidelines, 2015”.
  • The PIL wants sanitary napkins to be added in the schedule of the Essential Commodity Act, 1955.
  • The PIL states that since imposition of lockdown there is a complete negligence in providing sanitation facilities for menstruating women.
Ministry of Health's Response:
  • The decision to include sanitary napkins under essential commodities may be taken after understanding the current market scenario, and the demand supply gap.
  • Decision should also take into consideration the options of brands, quality, specification, costing and preferences available to the beneficiaries.
Significance of being an Essential Commodity:
  • The product deemed essential automatically come under price control.
  • Government has the power to bring any item of medical necessity under price control.
  • Currently, the health ministry prepares the list of drugs eligible for price regulation.
Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 2nd Jul 2020
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