(a) the efforts made by the Government for providing medicines at cheaper rates to the
poor in the courtry;
(b) whether the Government has taken any steps for making available the medicines of
meningitis, dengue, kalazar, pneumonia, heart diseaw; and kidney disease on lower
prices;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether these rredicines are available at Jan Aushadhi Outlets at lower price; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND
PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS
AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a) to (c) As per provisions of the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 1995 (DPCO,1995),
the prices of 74 bulk dings and the formulations containing airy of these
scheduled drugs are controlled by National Pharmaceutical Pricing authority
(NPPA). NPPA fixes or revises prices of scheduled drugs/formulations as per the
provisions of the DPOO, 1995. The NPPA monitors the prices of all formulations
inducing imported scheduled formulations under price control. Under the provisions
of DPCO, 195, no person can sell any scheduled formulation (medicine) to a consumer
at a price exceeding the price notified/approved by the NPPA.
Medicines for meningitis, dengue, kalazar, pneumonia, heart disease and kidney disease
are non-scheduled formulations. In respect of drugs-not covered under the DPCO,
1995 i.e. non-scheduled drugs, manufactures fix the prices by themselves without
seeking the approval of Government/NPPA. However, as a part of price-monitoring
activity, NPPA regularly examines the movement in prices of non-scheduled formulations.
The monthly report of IMS Health and the information furnished by individual
manufactures are utilized for the purpose of monitoring prices of non-scheduled
formulations. Wherever a price increase beyond 10% per annum is noticed,
the manufacturer is asked to bring down the price voluntarily failing which,
subject to prescribed conditions, actions is initiated under paragraph 10 (b)
of the DPCO, 1995 for fixing the price- of the formulation in public interest.
The Jan Aushadhi Campaign initiated by the Government of India, Department of
Pharmaceuticals, in November, 2008, aims to provide quality unbranded generic
medicines at affordable prices to a11 through Jan Aushadhi generic drug store in
each district to begin with, wherever the State Governments taking into account their
prevailing health policy, extend their support and cooperation in alloting the space
in the Government Hospital and also recommend agencies to manage such stores.
(d)&(e) Presently, 319 generic medicines are under the range of supply to the Jan
Aushadhi stores, wliich covers different diseases including meningitis, dengue,
pneumonia and heart diseases excluding kalazar and kidney diseases. Eiforts to increase
the coverage of other diseases with additional medicines is a continuous process.
The list of Jan Aushadhi medicines with the minimum retail prices is placed on the
website www.janaushddhi.gov.in.