States, UTs urged to frame policy for med prices

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to issue mandatory directions to regulate the prices of medicines and consumables sold by private hospitals for resident patients but urged states and Union territories (UTs) to consider framing appropriate policies to prevent inflated pricing and alleged exploitation.

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI:

A bench of justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh noted that while affordable healthcare is an essential component of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution, regulating the pricing of medicines and other consumables in private hospitals falls within the exclusive domain of policy decisions.

The court further emphasised the need to balance concerns about patient welfare with the continued participation of private entities in the healthcare sector.