Now, the real price of medicines will be known in minutes; daylight robbery in the name of medicine will no longer be possible..
UP FSDA New Rules: The UP Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has taken strict action following complaints regarding the massive disparity between the purchase price of medicines and the selling price charged to patients in hospitals and the retail market across Uttar Pradesh.
According to a new order issued by FSDA Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob, all retail pharmacies and those operating within hospital premises in the state must now publicly disclose complete pricing details for medicines on their official websites. The primary objective of this move is to ensure transparency in medicine prices and protect patients from overcharging.
**Information on purchase and sale rates to be provided on the website**
Regulations have been made particularly stringent for pharmacies operating within hospital premises, where patients and their families often lack alternative options for purchasing medicines, medical equipment, or nutritional products. Citing Paragraph 25 of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013, it has been clarified that it is mandatory for medicine sellers to make public the price lists received from manufacturers or importers. Consequently, pharmacies must clearly list the manufacturer's name, brand name, generic name, purchase rate for the hospital, and selling rate for the patient on their websites.
**The issue had sparked a political controversy**
This decision comes at a time when state politics were heating up following revelations of what was described as "daylight robbery" in the name of medicine sales. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had vigorously raised this issue, terming it a failure of the government and demanding strict action.
**Curbing counterfeit and adulterated drugs**
The FSDA believes that a significant gap between the purchase price and the MRP raises suspicions regarding the quality of the medicine—specifically whether it is substandard, counterfeit, or adulterated—and this new system aims to curb such practices. **Mandatory Display of License, Pharmacist Details, and Stock Updates**
**Display of QR Codes and App Links at Counters**
The FSDA has issued strict directives regarding the use of technology to enhance patient convenience and accessibility. Under these guidelines, QR codes or links to mobile apps must be prominently displayed at medicine shops and hospital pharmacy counters. Patients or their relatives will be able to scan the QR code using their mobile phones to access the pharmacy's website directly and instantly verify the actual purchase and sale prices of the medicines being bought.
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