Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has raised concerns over large differences between the procurement prices and printed MRPs of medical consumables used in hospitals, with some products showing markups of several hundred to several thousand per cent.
Mundhe highlighted the issue through a post on Twitter, citing findings from a Maharashtra survey of commonly used hospital consumables.
Among the examples cited was an IV infusion set purchased at a trade price of Rs 11.05 but carrying a printed MRP of Rs 325, amounting to a 2,841% markup.
A syringe procured for Rs 6.75 was found to have an MRP of Rs 57.20, while a catheter bought for Rs 29.41 carried a printed MRP of Rs 310.
Patients have limited scope to compare prices
Mundhe pointed out that patients undergoing hospital treatment generally have little opportunity to compare the prices of consumables used during their care.
Unlike medicines, where pricing is subject to established regulatory mechanisms for scheduled formulations, several medical devices and consumables do not have comparable direct price controls, he said.
The survey reportedly covered products including IV sets, syringes, nebulisers, oxygen masks and catheters used in inpatient treatment.
Focus on procurement price versus MRP
According to Mundhe, the difference between trade procurement prices and printed MRPs raises questions about how prices of hospital consumables are determined across the supply chain.
He also described the issue as one of transparency, as patients may not have access to sufficient information to assess whether charges for consumables used during treatment correspond to their underlying procurement costs.
Maharashtra FDA recommendations reach Centre
Following the findings, recommendations have been sent to the Department of Pharmaceuticals and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for consideration.
The recommendations include examining the pricing framework for medical devices and consumables and considering guidelines on the permissible difference between procurement prices and declared MRPs.
The move puts hospital consumable pricing under renewed scrutiny, particularly over the transparency of costs passed on to patients during hospitalisation.
