2000% Medical Consumables Markup? FDA Chief Flags Pricing Gap, Seeks NPPA Action

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe flags a massive gap between hospital purchase prices and the MRP of medical consumables, with trade margins reportedly exceeding 2000% in some cases. Mundhe says the issue raises concerns over transparency and information asymmetry in the pharmaceutical sector. He says the FDA has written to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) seeking intervention and a review of how MRPs are fixed. He also explains why hospitals cannot face an FIR merely for selling products below the MRP, while questioning whether such pricing practices are fair and ethical.