Summaries by Amit Varma

Maharashtra's order empowering patients to choose pharmacies is welcomed, addressing hospitals' "captive markets" and restoring patient ownership of prescriptions. While crucial for patient trust, choice alone won't drastically cut costs due to high trade margins. The author emphasizes that true reform requires simultaneous action on three fronts: extending patient choice, implementing wider trade-margin reforms with honest itemized billing, and ensuring medicine quality. Hospitals embracing patient choice and trust, rather than relying on captive revenues, will ultimately thrive. The prescription belongs to the patient, a belief hospitals should view as an asset.