A major public-interest step by UPFSDA: hospitals and retail pharmacies directed to create public websites; information will also be available via QR code
Hospital pharmacies must disclose PTR and PTC on their websites; all pharmacies directed to make license, pharmacist and weekly stock information public
FSDA takes a strict view of the huge gap between MRP and purchase price of medicines; initiative to protect patient interests through transparency
Lucknow, October 2026 : In view of the large gap between the purchase price of medicines and the price at which they are sold to patients, and the lack of transparency in price information at hospital pharmacies, the Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttar Pradesh (UPFSDA) has taken an important initiative. The department has directed all retail pharmacies in the state to set up their own public website and make information about the pharmacy, license, pharmacist and stock public on it.
Further, pharmacies operating within hospital premises or serving in-patients, where patients have no practical option to buy medicines, medical devices or nutraceuticals elsewhere, will also have to display on their websites information on the Price to Retail (PTR) and Price to Consumer (PTC) of medicines. The department has clarified that this arrangement is not a price control order, but an initiative based on self-disclosure of necessary information by pharmacies in the public interest. This is a very important initiative towards drug safety and the uninterrupted supply of quality medicines in the public interest.
Emphasis on compliance with DPCO provisions
Commissioner, FSDA, Dr. Roshan Jacob, in his order, cited Paragraph 25 of the Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO) 2013, stating that every retailer and dealer must display the price list provided by the manufacturer or importer at a prominent place in their shop or place of business, where any interested person can easily see it. According to UPFSDA, this DPCO provision applies to all pharmacies, including hospital pharmacies.
The facts that emerged during enforcement action by the department in recent months made it clear that many licensed firms were not taking the action required under this provision.
Heavy discounts to hospitals; questions over whether benefits reach patients
During enforcement action, the department came to know that drug manufacturers, marketing firms and stockists are supplying medicines to many hospital-based pharmacies at heavily discounted rates, much lower than the MRP. According to the department's order, in many cases the MRP of medicines was found to be several times their purchase price. Despite this, hospital pharmacies were providing the medicines to patients at prices much higher than their purchase cost.
In this situation, the department has considered it important that the real benefit of the heavy discounts available on institutional purchases reaches patients. With this in mind, an arrangement has been made for hospital pharmacies to make public the purchase price and the sale price to the patient.
Patients will be able to see the purchase and sale price of medicines
Pharmacies operating within hospital premises or for in-patients will have to display on their websites the name of the manufacturer, brand name, generic drug name, Price to Retail (Hospital) and Price to Consumer of the relevant medicines.
According to the department, PTR means the rate at which the hospital pharmacy purchases the medicine from the manufacturer/marketer, while PTC is the price at which the hospital pharmacy supplies the medicine to the patient. This will let patients and their families know at what price the hospital purchased a particular medicine and at what price it is being provided to the patient.
Every retail pharmacy must provide information on its website
According to the order, it will be mandatory for every retail pharmacy to set up its own public website. The website must display the pharmacy's name, license number, name of the license holder and the address of the licensed premises.
In addition, the name, registration number and photograph of the pharmacist appointed by the pharmacy or hospital must also be made available on the website. The pharmacy must provide information related to its stock on the website on a weekly basis and update it regularly.
URL and QR code must be displayed at the counter
To make this information easily accessible to the general public through digital means, all pharmacies must prominently display their website URL at the pharmacy counter. Instructions have also been given to provide customers access to the website through an app/QR code, etc. This will allow patients or customers to easily view the necessary information about the pharmacy on their mobile phones.
Concern over quality due to huge gap between MRP and purchase price
FSDA has also mentioned in the order that an extremely wide gap between the purchase price of medicines and the MRP or sale price may also raise the possibility of the medicines being counterfeit or spurious. In such a situation, price transparency is also being viewed as linked to the quality and safe supply of medicines.
UPFSDA has also referred in its order to the case of Sanjay Kulshrestha vs. Union of India & Others in the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The department has said that the relevant facts in these matters have also been taken note of. In this context, this initiative has been taken to make information related to pharmacy operations in the state more transparent.
Not price control, but a system based on self-disclosure
UPFSDA has clarified that this is not a price control order. Its aim is to ensure self-disclosure of necessary information by pharmacies, so that patients and customers can easily get information about the pharmacy's legitimacy, pharmacist, stock and, where applicable, the purchase and sale price of medicines.
According to the department, this arrangement is being implemented keeping in mind the broader public interest. Its objective is to increase transparency and accountability in the purchase and sale of medicines and to protect the interests of patients. It is also an important step towards effective monitoring of drug quality and ensuring safe, quality and uninterrupted supply of medicines. This will give patients more information about the medicines they need and help strengthen public trust in the pharmacy system.
