Court Calls for Better Regulation of Medical Care and Drug Pricing
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticized state governments for failing to ensure affordable healthcare and regulate the prices of essential medicines, thereby enabling the exploitation of patients in private hospitals.
Hearing on Overpricing in Private Hospitals
The remarks came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which alleged that private hospitals were forcing patients to buy medicines, implants, and other medical items from their in-house pharmacies at excessive mark-ups.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh expressed concern over the issue, with Justice Kant asking, “We agree with you… but how to regulate this?”
The court emphasized that it is the responsibility of state governments to ensure adequate medical care and prevent the unchecked commercialization of healthcare services.
States Defend Their Healthcare Policies
Several states, including Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, responded with counter-affidavits, arguing that they followed central government price control orders to keep essential drugs affordable.
Additionally, some states pointed to the establishment of fair-price medicine shops in government hospitals, ensuring access to reasonably priced medicines. They also questioned the legal standing (locus standi) of the petitioners in representing affected individuals.
Court Acknowledges State Efforts but Stresses Need for Action
While the court acknowledged that most states had outlined schemes for affordable drugs and medical services, it reiterated the need for stricter regulation to protect patients from exploitation by private hospitals. The matter remains under consideration as the court seeks solutions to regulate healthcare pricing more effectively.
