SC Questions Limited Drug Price Cap, Seeks Wider Regulation

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned why the Centre's 30% trade margin cap on anti-cancer drugs cannot be extended to all medicines, calling the government's response inadequate. The bench cited a saline drip sold at Rs 270 against a cost of Rs 11 and a cardiac stent marked up from Rs 5,000 to over Rs 25,000. The Centre has been given until October 27 to present modalities for broader price controls.