The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the union government not to change the retail pricing mechanism of essential drugs which should be within the reach of the common man.

"We make it clear that the government should not alter the price system as notified on July 13, 1999 and similar subsequent notification," said a bench headed by justice G S Singhvi, while giving seven days to the Centre to decide on the pricing of essential medicines.

"We are directly concerned about it. The court does not run the government, but it steps in only when required," the bench observed while posting the matter for further hearing on next Tuesday, October 9.

The Centre informed the court that the recommendations, made by the Group of Ministers, will soon be placed before the Cabinet for final decision on the issue.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation plea filed in 2003 by the All India Drugs Action Network and others which had complained that currently only around 78 drugs are placed under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 (DPCO) making rest of the medicines beyond the reach of the common man. During the last hearing on the matter, the petitioner's counsel had expressed apprehension that the proposed drug policy may lead to a steep hike in prices of essential drugs.