LUCKNOW, Oct. 8 -- Citing findings from inspections conducted at more than 200 hospital pharmacies attached to medical colleges and government and private hospitals over the past week, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has written to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), seeking a nationwide cap on margins on medicines procured by hospital pharmacies and sold to patients by amending the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO). In a letter dated October 5 to the NPPA chairperson, accessed by Hindustan Times, UP FSDA commissioner Roshan Jacob said the move was needed after inspections found huge disparities between the prices at which hospitals procured medicines and the prices charged to patients. The UP FSDA inspected over 200 pharmacies attached to medical colleges and government and private hospitals across the state and analysed 130 medicines. Of these, 36 had MRPs more than 10 times their procurement prices, with the gap reaching nearly 67 times for Polymyxin-B injection, the letter said. The inspections found large differences between the price-to-retailer (PTR)-the price at which hospital pharmacies procure medicines, consumables, devices and nutraceuticals-and the price ultimately charged to patients. The biggest gap was found in Polymyxin-B injection (GUFIPOL 500,000 Unit), used to treat serious bacterial infections. The medicine was procured for Rs.74.09, while its MRP was Rs.4,980.94-nearly 67 times the purchase price. Another pack of the same medicine, GUFIPOL 5 Lac, was purchased for Rs.90 but carried an MRP of Rs.4,528.10, around 50 times the procurement price. Large differences were also found in Terlipressin, used in certain serious liver-related conditions. Terlitech 10 ml injection was purchased for Rs.56 against an MRP of Rs.3,050-a difference of nearly 54 times. Another brand, TERONIM 10 ML, was also purchased for Rs.56 but had an MRP of Rs.2,600, around 46 times the purchase price. The UP regulator said it had already initiated a transparency measure. However, Jacob sought a uniform national mechanism through the NPPA, saying transparency in hospital medicine pricing should not depend on voluntary compliance by individual hospitals. The regulator said this could mean that the benefit of bulk or negotiated purchases does not reach patients. The letter also points to difficulties faced by patients admitted to hospitals....