Supreme Court Urges States to Address Overpricing in Private Hospitals

The court calls for state-level policies to prevent exploitation of patients forced to buy costly medicines and devices from in-house hospital pharmacies.

The Supreme Court has directed state governments to consider policies ensuring fair pricing of medicines and medical devices in private hospitals.
The court highlighted concerns over patients being compelled to purchase overpriced items from hospital-linked pharmacies, calling the practice exploitative.
While recognizing the importance of private healthcare, the court emphasized the need for balance to avoid discouraging private sector participation.
States and Union Territories were urged to frame local policies addressing these issues, as healthcare is a state subject under the Constitution.
The Union government pointed to existing mechanisms like Jan Aushadhi stores and price controls for essential drugs but denied any compulsion to buy from hospital pharmacies.