NewDelhi : For a family already fighting the devastating battle of cancer, the cost of life-saving medicines can become another painful struggle. During a hearing on a petition concerning the pricing and MRP of cancer medicines, the Supreme Court reportedly raised serious concerns over a case where a drug supplied to a retailer at a PTR of around ₹2,700 allegedly carries an MRP of ₹27,000—10 times higher. The court questioned how such a huge difference could be justified and described the situation as akin to “daylight robbery.”

Justice Sandeep Mehta reportedly expressed concern that authorities responsible for addressing such pricing issues appeared to have remained silent, questioning why no effective action had been taken. The court also raised concerns about situations involving government-supported healthcare schemes, where hospitals may purchase medicines at inflated MRP-linked prices and subsequently seek reimbursement from the government, meaning the financial burden ultimately falls on taxpayers. The bench reportedly questioned whether manufacturers, distributors and other links in the supply chain were being allowed to make excessive profits while regulatory authorities remained inactive.

According to the court’s observations, such pricing practices could place families battling serious illnesses under severe financial pressure and potentially lead to misuse of public funds. The proceedings have also highlighted the need for stronger regulatory oversight, greater transparency in medicine pricing and effective measures to prevent excessive margins on life-saving drugs. The observations were made during the court proceedings and should be understood in the context of the specific case before the Supreme Court.

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