In a much-needed focus on the severe asymmetry faced by patients over drug pricing, the Supreme Court has directed sharp queries at the Union of India on why there is a shocking mark-up in prices at the retail level, to the detriment of citizens.

Although the court took up specific instances related to cancer drugs in cases filed by Kishan Chand Jain and Dr Sanjay Kulshreshtha, it became evident during the proceedings that the government had chosen to ignore routine usurious pricing and price control for drugs not being included in the schedule of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

It also failed to treat medicines as essential commodities under law. Such policy failure has resulted in a cancer drug, priced at Rs 2,700, being sold in retail at Rs 27,000, a phenomenon........

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