NEW DElhi, Sept. 23 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the disparity in drug pricing with essential cancer drugs sold to consumers at a whopping Rs 27,000 when the price at which it is sold to retailers is only Rs 2,700, observing that this amounts to "broad daylight dacoity" and asked the government authorities why they fail to act on this crucial issue. Dealing with a petition related to drug pricing and price regulation of generic medicines, the court said that it is aware of the practical problems faced by citizens who are forced to sell their houses, ornaments, etc to afford treatment and buy medicines as it raised concerns over the issue and posted the matter for September 29 to continue hearing the Centre and pharmaceutical manufacturers on the issue. A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said, "We wonder how a patient can be cheated for an essential cancer drug. We know of a cancer drug which the manufacturer sells at a price to retailers (PTR) of Rs 2,700 which is then sold in the market for Rs 27,000. This is blatant broad daylight dacoity, an absolute rampage and carnage they are doing to the patients." Questioning the role of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and the Department of Pharmaceuticals in this regard, the bench further observed, "It is surprising that the authorities supposed to take a decision on this are completely silent. If this is not extortion then what is it? A medicine sold to retailers at 10% of MRP, why this disparity, is what we are asking?" The apex court was hearing petitions filed by advocate Kishan Chand Jain and Sanjay Kulshresthra, a doctor by profession, who sought intervention of the court in regulating prices of drugs, equipment and generic medicines to make it affordable to common citizens. "We know how people sell their homes, and their ornaments to get medicines..how many times will a patient go to a medical store and ask for the list of prices. He will take it at whatever price it is being offered. We are only questioning why there should be so much disparity," the apex court remarked during the hearing in the case....