LUCKNOW, Oct. 3 -- Surprise inspections at 12 private hospitals in Lucknow have uncovered medicine stock and billing discrepancies and raised questions over the pricing of medicines sold to patients.

According to a Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFSDA) press release, teams of 26 drug inspectors carried out surprise inspections at 12 private hospitals on September 30 and October 1 as part of a statewide campaign to ensure quality medicines are available at fair prices.

The teams collected 38 medicine samples for quality testing and are examining the difference between the printed maximum retail price (MRP) and the Price to Retailer (PTR)-the price at which hospitals buy medicines from wholesalers and stockists.

The ...