Drugs Pricing

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is issuing demand notices in cases of overcharging in respect of price controlled medicines. During April 2012 to March 2013 103 such cases have come to the notice of NPPA. In the past also and the amount overcharged by the companies along with interest thereon is recovered from the companies. Since inception of NPPA (August, 1997) till November, 2013, there are 1001 overcharging cases where demand notices have been issued to pharmaceuticals companies amounting to Rs.3161.68 crore for selling medicines at prices higher than the price fixed by NPPA/ Government under DPCO, 1995. Out of the total demand, Rs.260.40 crore has been recovered till 30.11.2013 leaving behind a balance of Rs.2901.28 crore, which is under dispute in courts

This was stated in a statement by the Minister for Chemicals & fertilizers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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KSP/NKS/SG