Politics · India Bureau
Supreme Court slams overpricing of cancer drugs as 'daylight robbery'
India's top court has expressed sharp concern over the exorbitant pricing of essential cancer medications, drawing parallels to criminal activity. The bench questioned the apparent inaction of regulatory authorities in addressing the issue.
LSN India ·
The Supreme Court of India has come down heavily on pharmaceutical companies for charging excessively high prices for life-saving cancer drugs, characterizing the practice as 'broad daylight dacoity' during recent proceedings.
A bench hearing the matter expressed dismay at what it described as blatant profiteering on treatments essential for cancer patients. The court noted the apparent contradiction between the critical nature of these medications and their steep price tags, which place them beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
The bench registered particular disapproval of the regulatory framework's failure to curb such pricing practices. 'It is very surprising that the authorities who are supposed to take action on this are silent,' the judges observed, highlighting a perceived gap in enforcement by competent government agencies.
The observations underscore growing judicial concern over access to affordable healthcare in India, particularly for patients battling life-threatening diseases. The court's remarks suggest potential pressure on regulators to review pricing mechanisms and ensure that essential medications remain accessible to the broader population.