Supreme Court of India questions massive markups on cancer drugs

medicine pricing Supreme Court of India cancer drugs pharmaceutical margins Drug Price Control Order

The Supreme Court of India has expressed severe concern over the massive price disparity between the maximum retail price (MRP) of medicines and their supply price to retailers. Describing the situation as 'carnage', a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta highlighted an instance where a cancer drug supplied to retailers for approximately Rs 2,700 to Rs 3,000 carried an MRP of Rs 27,000.

The court questioned the central government on why a uniform 16 percent margin cap is not prescribed for all pharmaceutical products, rather than maintaining distinctions between essential and non-essential medicines under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO).

Additionally, the bench flagged the practices of corporate hospitals that mandate patients to purchase medicines from in-house pharmacies, noting that patients who seek medication externally may face threats to their treatment continuity. The court observed that such practices place a significant financial burden on patients and taxpayers, particularly those under government health schemes.

Entities

Ashwini Upadhyay · Government of India · Sandeep Mehta · Supreme Court of India · Surya Kant · Tushar Mehta · Vikram Nath

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated the Union government must find a way to balance the interests of all stakeholders. bhaskarlive.in · www.deccanchronicle.com · www.newindianexpress.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The Supreme Court described the massive markup on cancer drugs as 'carnage'. www.deccanchronicle.com · www.newindianexpress.com
[● 7 SOURCES] The court flagged the practice of corporate hospitals requiring patients to use in-house pharmacies. bhaskarlive.in · samacharnama.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · www.mpbreakingnews.in · www.deccanchronicle.com · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The court questioned why a uniform 16 percent margin cap is not applied to all pharmaceutical products. bhaskarlive.in · samacharnama.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · www.mpbreakingnews.in · www.deccanchronicle.com · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] A cancer drug with a price to retailer (PTR) of approximately Rs 2,700 to Rs 3,000 has a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 27,000. bhaskarlive.in · samacharnama.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · www.mpbreakingnews.in · www.deccanchronicle.com · +2 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The court questioned the distinction between essential and non-essential medicines under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). bhaskarlive.in · hindi.asianetnews.com · www.mpbreakingnews.in · www.deccanchronicle.com · www.newindianexpress.com · +1 more