#SupremeCourt again questions Centre over huge... ... LiveLaw Breaking News Alerts: 29 September 2026

#SupremeCourt again questions Centre over huge markups on cancer drugs compared to significantly lower price to retailers (PTR).

Justice Sandeep Mehta: 27000 MRP of a cancer drug, price to retailer is around 3000. Just see the drastic difference.

Justice Mehta: Why a distinction between essential and non essential under DPCO?

Bench: corporate hospitals insist on purchasing from in house pharmacies. Who pays if the patient is taking treatment under some government scheme? The taxpayer.

Bench: why not a uniform criteria of 16% and nothing beyond that? Every medical device, every medicine is covered under the Essential Commodities Act. If it is an essential item can it be left out of the DCPO?

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta earlier: we will have to find a way out. I am not saying the petitioners are wrong but some way which balances equities will have to be found. As I understand Pharma companies are not the ones benefiting from it.