Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has highlighted a wide gap between the procurement prices and printed MRPs of hospital consumables, citing a survey that found some commonly used medical products carrying markups running into thousands of per cent.
In a post on Instagram, Mundhe said a significant portion of a hospital bill may come from medical consumables whose pricing patients have little ability to assess. He cited a Maharashtra survey that found an IV infusion set purchased at a trade price of Rs 11.05 carrying a printed MRP of Rs 325, representing a 2,841% markup. A syringe procured for Rs 6.75 had an MRP of Rs 57.20, while a catheter bought for Rs 29.41 carried an MRP of Rs 310.
