Supreme Court Criticizes State for Failing to Regulate Private Healthcare Pricing

The Supreme Court declined the issuance of mandatory guidelines to regulate the overpricing of medicines and medical devices by hospital pharmacies while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

The Court commented on the involvement of States and Union Territories (UTs), stating that state governments have failed to fulfill their duty of regulating pricing in private healthcare facilities.

The Bench noted that regulating the pricing of medicines and other consumables in private hospitals falls within the exclusive domain of policy-making bodies.

The court disposed of the writ petition while directing states to consider the issue and take policy-appropriate decisions.