₹2,700 cancer medicine sold for ₹27,000, Supreme Court questions huge markup
Supreme Court questions agencies over a cancer medicine sold at ten times its cost, calling the pricing deeply concerning for patients.
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court has expressed strong concern over the high prices of life-saving cancer medicines, questioning why regulatory agencies have remained silent. A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta made the observations while hearing petitions related to medicine price control and said taking advantage of vulnerable patients was unacceptable.
The court cited the example of a cancer medicine with a Price to Retailer (PTR) of ₹2,700 being sold with an MRP of ₹27,000. The bench questioned whether fixing an MRP ten times higher than the retailer price could be justified, noting that patients and their families sometimes sell property and jewellery to meet cancer treatment expenses. The court also raised concerns over hospitals claiming high medicine costs under schemes such as Ayushman Bharat with the burden ultimately falling on taxpayers.
The petitions have sought strict enforcement of the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013, and action against companies and retailers allegedly making excessive profits. Another plea has sought disciplinary action against doctors who prescribe expensive branded medicines instead of cheaper generic alternatives. Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj said the government was considering the issue positively. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for September 29.