Hospital drug price disclosure circular on hold in Karnataka

Karnataka High Court has recorded that the State government has undertaken not to insist on compliance with its October 1, 2026 circular requiring hospitals to disclose the purchase price, maximum retail price (MRP) and price charged to patients for medicines, medical devices and consumables. The circular, issued by the Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration, also required hospitals to display this pricing information at billing and pharmacy counters.

Private hospitals had challenged the circular, reportedly arguing that the authorities lacked the legal power to compel disclosure of their procurement prices. The State informed the Court that the circular is under review and its implementation would not be insisted on until the next hearing on November 12, 2026. The Court has not yet decided the legality of the circular.