Mumbai: A survey by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found significant differences between the trade prices and printed maximum retail prices (MRP) of some medical consumables used in hospitals.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, a 2005-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, shared details of the survey in a social media post, highlighting differences recorded in the prices of products such as IV infusion sets, syringes and catheters.
IV Set Bought for ₹11.05 Had MRP of ₹325
The survey highlighted substantial variations between the purchase price of certain medical consumables and their printed MRP.
Examples cited by the FDA include:
- An IV infusion set with a trade price of ₹11.05 had an MRP of ₹325.
- A syringe with a trade price of ₹6.75 carried an MRP of ₹57.20.
- A catheter with a trade price of ₹29.41 had an MRP of ₹310.
The figures refer to the trade prices and printed MRPs identified in the survey.
FDA Raises Questions Over Pricing Transparency
Mundhe pointed out that many of these consumables are routinely used during hospital treatment. Products such as IV sets, syringes and catheters may be required as part of medical procedures and cannot ordinarily be chosen by patients independently during treatment.
The FDA’s observations therefore focus on the difference between the price at which such products enter the trade channel and the MRP printed on their packaging.
Medical Devices and Consumables Face Different Price Controls
According to the source, the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO) provides price-ceiling provisions for scheduled medicines. However, Mundhe noted that most medical devices and consumables do not come under the same direct price-control mechanism.
This has raised the question of whether there should be clearer provisions governing the permissible difference between the procurement price of medical consumables and their declared MRP.
Maharashtra FDA Recommends Clearer Guidelines
The Maharashtra FDA has recommended that the survey findings be examined and that guidelines be considered for determining an acceptable difference between trade procurement prices and declared MRPs of medical consumables.
The recommendation has been sent to the Department of Pharmaceuticals and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for consideration.
The proposed review is aimed at addressing pricing and information gaps concerning medical consumables used in healthcare settings.
What the Survey Highlights
The Maharashtra FDA’s findings specifically point to:
- Wide differences between trade prices and printed MRPs for some consumables.
- Examples involving IV infusion sets, syringes and catheters.
- The absence of the same direct price-ceiling framework for most medical devices and consumables as applies to scheduled medicines.
- A recommendation for clearer guidelines on the difference between procurement prices and declared MRPs.
The next steps, if any, will depend on the examination of the FDA’s recommendations by the concerned central authorities and the NPPA.
About Tukaram Mundhe
Tukaram H. Mundhe (IAS: 2005: Maharashtra) is a Maharashtra-cadre Indian Administrative Service officer. He took charge as Commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2026, where he oversees the state’s regulatory administration concerning food and drugs.
Before his FDA posting, Mundhe held several administrative positions in Maharashtra, including roles in municipal administration, health and family welfare, and district administration. His current tenure has included enforcement and regulatory action concerning food safety and pharmaceutical products.
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