Affordable medicines and regulation of private hospitals

• Topic covers India's twin policy levers for healthcare cost containment: (a) price control of drugs via DPCO 2013 enforced by NPPA, and (b) regulation of private hospitals under the Clinical Establishments (Registration & Regulation) Act, 2010.
• Sits at the intersection of Right to Health (Art. 21), federal division (Health = State subject), and Department of Pharmaceuticals (Min. of Chemicals & Fertilizers) stewardship.
• Frequently tested in Prelims (NPPA, DPCO, Schedule-I, PMBJP) and Mains GS-II (health governance, vulnerable groups).