Why Most Medicines Kept Out Of Price Control Regime? Supreme Court Questions Centre, Reserves Order
The Indian Supreme Court has questioned the government's reluctance to expand price controls on essential medicines. Justices expressed concern that prioritizing pharmaceutical industry growth over affordable healthcare leaves the poorest citizens vulnerable to excessive pricing.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tension between economic policy and public health access in developing nations.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned why the Union government was reluctant to bring a wider range of medicines under price control, observing that its reliance on market forces and concerns about pharmaceutical-industry growth cannot justify leaving patients exposed to medicine prices that may be hundreds of times higher than procurement costs.“You are dealing with the lives of people, Ms. Bhati. Don't take it as a commerce. Treat it as a life of the poorest person of this country. You are talking only in the terms of commerce, economic policy, this, that.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in