Supreme Court Questions Steep Mark-Ups on Essential Cancer Drugs

The Supreme Court criticized steep mark-ups on essential medicines, noting that an essential cancer drug supplied to retailers for ₹3,000 was sold to consumers for ₹27,000.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta questioned why a uniform 16% retailer margin prescribed under the Drugs Prices Control Order should not be applied universally.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that private hospitals rather than pharmaceutical companies benefit from these price disparities, and the court posted the matter for October 12, 2026.