Terming it broad daylight dacoity against patients, Supreme Court expressed shock over overpricing of essential cancer medicines, noting one drug carried MRP of Rs 27,000 despite being supplied to retailers for Rs 2,700. It is very surprising authorities who supposed to take action silent, bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said. Observations came when court hearing two petitions on drug-related issues including ensuring strict price control over medicines. MRP is 10 times rate at which provided to retailers. If this is not extortion then what it
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation CDSCO separately cautioned against indiscriminate prolonged use of painkillers and antibiotics citing risk of kidney damage in circular Sept 21, said NSAIDs and antibiotics regulated under Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Drugs Rules 1945 should be sold on prescription of registered medical practitioner, advised public not to self-medicate.
Cancer drug pricing story is not new. India has DPCO - Drug Price Control Order - but essential cancer medicines often out of control, under trade margin rationalisation loophole. Retailer gets 10x margin - 900% markup - while patient sells land.
Why? No price ceiling enforcement, nexus between pharma companies, distributors, hospitals. Hospitals prescribe brand, not generic, get cut. MRP printed high to show discount later. Regulator NPPA watches but silent, as court noted.
Court calling it dacoity matters. Dacoity is not theft, it is robbery with violence. For cancer patient, 10x price is violence - financial toxicity kills as surely as disease. India aspires to be pharmacy of world while its own patients looted in broad daylight. Need mandatory generic prescription, QR-coded price traceability, and jail for MRP manipulation, not just fine.