Karnataka govt pauses circular on medicine price disclosure by hospitals
The assurance came during the hearing of a petition challenging the October 1 circular, which requires hospitals and healthcare institutions to disclose the procurement price, maximum retail price (MRP) and the price charged to patients for medicines, medical devices and consumables in itemised bills from November 1.
The Karnataka government has informed the High Court that it will not enforce a circular mandating hospital pharmacies to disclose the purchase price and maximum retail price (MRP) of medicines, medical devices and consumables on bills, at least for now. This decision was made following a petition filed by the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association, Bengaluru, and a private hospital, challenging the legality of the circular issued on October 1.
The State's Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has given an undertaking to the court, stating that they are re-examining the circular and will not enforce its mandate until the next hearing on November 12. The petitioners argued that the FSDA lacks statutory power to impose such conditions, as they would expose confidential commercial agreements between suppliers and health establishments, and that the circular was issued without adequate stakeholder consultations.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Hindu's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
