(a) whether the Government proposes to bring more drugs under price
control without awaiting the approval of the National Pharmaceutical
Policy;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the time by which the final decision is likely to be taken in this regard;and
(d) the other steps contemplated to control prices of essential drugs?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a} to TcH OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 49
FOR ANSWER ON 25-2.2010 REGARDING DRUGS UNDER PRICE CONTROL
(a)to(c): Since the Pharmaceutical Policy, 2006 is under consideration of the Government, a
final view to bring more drugs under price control is yet to be taken.
(d): Under the provisions of the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 1995
(DPCO) 1995, the prices of 74 bulk drugs, specified in the first schedule, and the formulations
containing any of these scheduled drugs are controlled. National Pharmaceutical Pricing
Authority (NPPA)/Government fix or revise prices of scheduled drugs/formulations as per
the provisions of the DPCO, 1995. No one can sell any scheduled drugs/formulations at a
price higher than that fixed by NPPA. NPPA as part of its price monitoring activity,
regularly examines the movement in their prices. The monthly reports of ORG IMS and the
information furnished by individual manufacturers are utilized for the purpose of monitoring
price of non-scheduled formulations. Whenever a price increase beyond 10% per annum is noticed,
the specific manufacturers are asked to bring down the price voluntarily failing which, subject
to prescribed conditions, action is initiated under paragraph 10(b) of the DPCO, 1995 for
fixing the price of the formulation in public interest. This is an ongoing process.
In so far as `essential drugs` are concerned, the Draft Pharmaceutical Policy 2006 which is
under consideration of the Government, proposes to include essential drugs as contained in
the in the National List of Essential Medicines(NLEM) 2003 under price control.