Supreme Court questions drug pricing disparity
The Supreme Court heard petitions challenging large gaps between wholesale and retail prices of essential medicines, citing an example where a cancer drug is sold to retailers at ₹2,700 but offered to patients at ₹27,000. The bench called the disparity "broad daylight dacoity," questioned the silence of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority and the Department of Pharmaceuticals, and noted taxpayer exposure through Ayushman Bharat reimbursements. Petitioners highlighted that only about 5,000 of 60,000 brands fall under price controls and that 82% of medicines lie outside the scheduled regime. The court has posted the matter for September 29 for further submissions.
Court found oncology drug sold to retailers at ₹2,700, retailed at ₹27,000
Context
The supreme court is hearing petitions about drug price regulation. The court found large price gaps between retailer prices and patient prices. The court has asked regulators to explain and set a next hearing.
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