Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Medical Device Industry Seeks Overhaul of Pricing Rules
Some hospitals are charging patients much more for certain medical supplies than the hospitals paid for them.
A Maharashtra survey found that one type of IV set was bought for about ₹11 but billed at ₹325.
Other supplies, including syringes, needles, masks, and filters, also had large price differences.
Maharashtra FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe asked national regulators to review these prices.
He suggested limits on trade margins and better monitoring of device prices.
The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry supported his proposal.
The group said patients should pay fair prices and that the industry should remain competitive.
Regulators are being asked to decide whether some essential devices need stronger price controls.
The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry backed Tukaram Mundhe’s call for a national review of medical device pricing rules.
A Maharashtra survey found private hospitals charging markups of up to 2,841% on some surgical consumables.
Standard IV infusion sets bought for ₹11.05 were billed to patients at ₹325.
Mundhe urged trade-margin rationalization, structured price monitoring, and possible regulation of essential devices.
The devices affected generally fall outside the direct ceiling-price mechanism under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
- Who
- Maharashtra FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry, the Department of Pharmaceuticals, and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.
- What
- The medical device industry supported a proposed national overhaul of pricing rules after a survey found very high markups on hospital-sold surgical consumables.
- When
- The industry’s statement was issued late Tuesday; the survey and Mundhe’s appeal were reported in the article without a specific date.
- Where
- The survey covered private hospitals in Maharashtra, while the proposed pricing review would apply nationally in India.
- Why
- To address large differences between hospitals’ procurement costs and the prices charged to patients, and to improve transparency and affordability.
- Highest reported markup
- 2,841% on a standard IV infusion set
- Example procurement price
- An IV infusion set was bought for ₹11.05
- Example patient price
- The same type of IV infusion set was billed at ₹325
- Industry representative
- Association of Indian Medical Device Industry, representing 1,000 member companies
- Proposed measures
- Trade-margin rationalization, structured price monitoring, and possible regulation of essential devices
- Current regulatory gap
- The devices generally fall outside the direct ceiling-price mechanism of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013
- Estimated market size
- India’s medical devices market is valued at around $18 billion