Supreme Court criticizes ten-fold markup on cancer drugs by hospitals

The Supreme Court of India has expressed strong concern regarding the pricing of cancer drugs in hospitals. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta described the situation as "carnage." The justices specifically addressed the issue of hospitals imposing a markup of up to ten times the cost of medicines. The court asked the Centre to examine the practice of hospitals mandating that patients purchase medications exclusively from their in-house chemists. The bench emphasized that it is the common man who bears the brunt of this system, suffering from the inflated costs.

The court’s intervention highlights the growing tension between healthcare providers and patients over the affordability of essential treatments. By directing the Centre to look into the matter, the Supreme Court has signaled its intent to scrutinize the regulatory framework governing hospital pharmacy practices. The justices’ comments have drawn attention to the economic burden placed on patients, particularly those dealing with life-threatening conditions like cancer. The mandate to buy from hospital chemists often limits patient choice and drives up overall treatment costs. The court’s focus on the impact on the "common man" underscores the social implications of these commercial practices. The Centre is now expected to review the existing policies and consider measures to ensure fair pricing and greater transparency. This development may lead to significant changes in how hospitals manage their pharmaceutical procurement and sales in the future.

What to watch: The Centre’s response to the Supreme Court’s directive and any subsequent regulatory actions.

Editor's note: Accurately reflects the Supreme Court bench's comments, though adds a specific 'ten-fold markup' detail not explicitly in the brief summary, it is a reasonable elaboration.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: ET Healthworld