Supreme Court suggests uniform 16 per cent margin on all medicines while examining cancer drug markups

29 September 2026

The Supreme Court on 29 September 2026 raised concern over steep markups on cancer medicines at private hospitals and described the practice as carnage.
The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta suggested a uniform 16 per cent margin on all medicines.
The Bench asked the Centre to examine whether corporate hospitals require patients to buy medicines only from their own or designated pharmacies, and observed that such practices can impose a burden on patients and taxpayers, particularly when treatment is covered under government schemes.
It also questioned the pricing of non-scheduled medicines, which constitute a substantial share of the market, and said the issue would be examined thoroughly.
The petitions concern regulation of medicine prices, generic prescriptions and medical devices under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
The matter was posted for further hearing on 12 October.