1 hr ago
Supreme Court Slams Tenfold Cancer Drug Markups by Hospitals
The Supreme Court discussed why some cancer medicines cost so much in hospitals.
It said one medicine was supplied to retailers for Rs 2,700 but sold with an MRP of Rs 27,000.
The judges called this very unfair to ordinary people.
They suggested that medicines might have a common 16% margin.
The court also asked the government to examine hospitals making patients use their own pharmacies.
The hearing covered medicine prices, generic medicines and medical devices.
The government said it needed to discuss the issue with officials.
The Solicitor General agreed that the problem needs attention.
The Supreme Court called hospitals’ steep cancer-drug markups “carnage.”
The bench cited a cancer medicine priced at Rs 27,000 MRP despite a Rs 2,700 retailer supply price.
Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta urged consideration of a uniform 16% margin on all medicines.
The court asked the Centre to examine hospitals requiring patients to buy medicines from their own chemists.
The hearing involved medicine prices, generic prescriptions and medical-device controls under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
- Who
- The Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, the Centre, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.
- What
- The court questioned steep hospital markups on cancer medicines and suggested considering a uniform 16% medicine margin.
- Where
- At a Supreme Court hearing in India.
- When
- Tuesday; the article was published at 16:14.
- Why
- The court was hearing petitions on medicine-price regulation and expressed concern that high markups burden ordinary people and taxpayers.
Key facts
- Example medicine MRP
- Rs 27,000
- Example retailer supply price
- Rs 2,700
- Margin proposed for consideration
- 16% on all medicines
- Court bench
- Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
- Government representative
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta
- Legal framework discussed
- Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013
- Other issues before the court
- Generic prescriptions and medical-device controls
Quotes
Justice Sandeep Mehta
A judge on the Supreme Court bench hearing the medicine-pricing petitions
“This is carnage. Plain and simple. The cancer drug is priced at an MRP of Rs 27,000 despite being supplied to retailers for Rs 2,700.”
m.rediff.com
“Corporate hospitals don't spare anyone. They won't allow even the dead body to be taken out. The pharma sector is not bothered”
m.rediff.com
Sources
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