Medicine Prices

Bench questions steep mark-ups on medicines and medical devices; Centre says price regulation must balance affordability with availability

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked the Centre why the maximum retail price (MRP) of essential medicines such as cancer drugs could not be capped at 16 per cent

The Supreme Court said it was "absolutely shocking" that the printed MRP of an essential cancer drug was ₹27,000 when the price to the retailer was ₹2,700

Brokerages expect diagnostic majors to sustain volume growth through FY27, aided by robust demand and stable pricing, though the recent stock rally may cap upside

No deadline set for policy; non-scheduled drugs account for 82% of market, average channel markup on common dosage forms is 43%

According to the order, the fixed retail prices are exclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST), which may be added only if it has actually been paid or is payable to the government.

The investments are aimed at strengthening domestic production of high-tech medicines in Brazil through partnerships between Indian companies

Despite lower GST rates on most food items and medicines, many consumers report only partial or no price relief, highlighting gaps in implementation and last-mile enforcement, a recent survey said

Retailers say proximity of new outlets is hurting sales and seek higher trade margins along with GST loss compensation under the Jan Aushadhi scheme

A LocalCircles survey finds GST 2.0 benefits have reached only a fraction of consumers, with packaged foods and medicines lagging while vehicles and appliances show clearer price cuts

Chemists' body urges action against e-pharmacies, quick commerce apps for delivering high-risk drugs without checks, warning of rising misuse and youth addiction

Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) on Thursday said President Donald Trump's imposition of a 25 per cent tariff plus unspecified penalty on all goods coming from India starting August 1, will result in increased costs for essential drugs in the US, ultimately harming consumers and healthcare systems in the country in the long term. The US market, heavily reliant on India for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and low-cost generics, faces a daunting challenge in finding alternative sources that can match the scale, quality, and affordability that India offers, Pharmexcil Chairman Namit Joshi said in a statement. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment. Reacting to the development, Joshi said India has long been a cornerstone of the global supply chain for affordable, high-qualit

The NPPA will ensure drug companies do not exceed the 10% annual price increase limit on non-essential medicines

India sees a 50 per cent surge in cardiac drug sales between 2021 and 2025, reflecting a worrying rise in heart disease cases and early diagnoses. Experts call for urgent preventive strategies

Novo and Lilly are both scaling up production as they vie for a dominant share of a weight-loss market that some analysts forecast could reach $150 billion a year in the next decade

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (EBITA) were exactly in line with expectations at 516 million euros, up 13 per cent year-on-year, as lower costs pushed the profit margin up

Olympus' 6 per cent tumble put the company's shares on track for their biggest one-day fall in nearly three months

Half of the states without coverage said they are considering adding them or evaluating their coverage, it said

Ceiling prices were also revised for the asthma drug Salbutamol in tablets of 2 mg and 4 mg formulations and respirator solution of 5 mg/ml formulation

More than 50 widely prescribed medications, including treatments for high blood pressure, acid reflux, and erectile dysfunction, were identified as substandard in quality