Supreme Court Questions Centre Over Disparity in Medicine Prices

The Supreme Court has questioned the Centre over the substantial difference between the maximum retail price (MRP) of medicines and the prices at which retailers purchase them. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked why the system appeared to be working in favour of pharmaceutical manufacturers. The Centre told the court that its policy was not to regulate the entire pharmaceutical sector.

The bench was hearing two petitions concerning medicine pricing in India and also expressed concern over the functioning of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). Referring to the wide gap between the MRP and retailers’ purchase prices, the court questioned whether the government was allowing the situation to continue without adequate control. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati argued that medicine prices in India were among the lowest in the world. After hearing the arguments, the bench reserved its judgment.