The Supreme Court has questioned the wide gap between the Price to Retailer (PTR) and Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of cancer medicines, raising concerns over the affordability of essential treatment in India.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta examined a case involving a cancer medicine reportedly supplied to retailers for around ₹2,700 but carrying an MRP of ₹27,000. The ten-fold difference prompted the court to question the existing approach to medicine price controls.
The bench also asked why a uniform margin cap of 16% could not be considered across pharmaceutical products, rather than maintaining different approaches for scheduled and non-scheduled medicines.
The court raised concerns about private hospitals requiring patients to purchase medicines from their in-house pharmacies. It also pointed out that when treatment is covered under government-funded health schemes, inflated medicine prices can ultimately increase the burden on taxpayers.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, acknowledged the issue and said the government would need to find a solution that balances the interests of different stakeholders. He sought additional time for consultations with officials.
The court also discussed how large differences between printed MRPs and actual retailer prices can create confusion for patients, who may question whether a heavily discounted medicine is genuine.
The case concerns broader petitions seeking stronger regulation of medicine pricing, including controls on non-scheduled drugs. The Supreme Court has listed the matter for further hearing on October 12, when the Centre is expected to respond to the issues raised by the bench.
