Top Official Demands Pharma Transparency After Survey Reveals 2,800% Trade Margins

Senior bureaucrat Tukaram Mundhe has called for greater transparency in the pharmaceutical industry after a survey flagged trade margins as high as 2,800 percent. Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Mundhe stated that such margins are unacceptable from the perspective of consumers, hospitals, and regulators alike. He acknowledged that the pharma industry, like any other, must remain profitable, but stressed that extreme markups cannot be justified. The remarks come amid growing scrutiny of pricing practices in India's pharmaceutical supply chain.