New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- Stocks of hospital companies have come under pressure after the Supreme Court raised concerns over high mark-ups on cancer medicines while hearing a petition on drug pricing on 22 September. The Supreme Court has asked the central government why the 16% trade margin applicable to scheduled drugs could not be extended to non-scheduled drugs. The next hearing is scheduled for 12 October, and that's what investors would be tracking closely.

Earlier, Maharashtra Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) had written to the Department of Pharmaceuticals after finding large mark-ups in medicines and other consumables sold through hospital pharmacies in its survey, and sought monitoring of prices. The Maharashtra FDA found mark-ups ...