Key facts
- Maharashtra FDA has ordered hospitals to stop forcing patients to buy medicines from in-house pharmacies.
- Hospitals must provide prescriptions directly to patients or their relatives.
- Patients are informed they can purchase medicines from any licensed pharmacy.
- The directive prohibits withholding prescriptions or sending them to affiliated pharmacies without consent.
- Hospitals must display prominent notices in Marathi and English about patient choice.
- The FDA considers this practice an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a directive aimed at preventing hospitals and medical practitioners from compelling patients to purchase medications exclusively from pharmacies located within or affiliated with the hospital premises. The order, dated June 12 and signed by FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, mandates that all healthcare providers must hand prescriptions directly to patients or their representatives. This prevents them from forwarding prescriptions to in-house or affiliated pharmacies without explicit patient consent. Patients are to be informed that they have the freedom to buy their medicines from any licensed pharmacy of their choice. The FDA stated that withholding prescriptions or directing patients to specific hospital-affiliated pharmacies without consent constitutes an unfair trade practice and violates consumer rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Hospitals are required to prominently display notices in both Marathi and English, informing patients of their right to purchase medicines from any licensed pharmacy.