Karnataka proposes mandatory ‘Cost-to-MRP’ disclosure in bills
Similar disparities were found in consumables. An adult nebuliser mask costing Rs 44.50 had an MRP of Rs 950, while an IV set costing Rs 14.75 had an MRP of Rs 295. A Polysafety PRO IV Cannula had a landing cost of Rs 33.21 against an MRP of Rs 548.
At a press conference here on Thursday, Khader said 253 drugs with extreme pricing anomalies had been identified during inspections and sought mandatory disclosure of landing cost and MRP on patient bills, expansion of price controls under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), regulation of trade margins on essential high-value medicines and consumables and an inter-ministerial expert group to study the issue.
The letter also sought amendments to the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, rationalisation of trade margins, mandatory cost-to-MRP transparency, expansion of the National List of Essential Medicines, treatment of back-end considerations as part of acquisition cost, and an audit and enforcement mechanism.
At present, the state said scheduled drugs under the DPCO have ceiling prices fixed by the NPPA with a 16% retailer margin, while non-scheduled drugs have no cap on retailer margins. Medical devices and consumables also have limited price control, while there is no specific regulation mandating hospitals to pass on institutional discounts to patients.