Question : RISE IN PRICE OF DRUGS

(a) whether the prices of essential/life savings drugs have increased;

(b) if so, the percentage increase in prices of drugs/medicines along with the action/steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to control/check increase in the prices of drugs /medicines along with the success achieved therefrom during each of the last three years and the current year, medicine-wise;

(c) whether permission has been sought from the Government to increase the prices of any drugs;

(d) if so, the names of such companies along with the details of drugs for which permission has been sought/granted by the Government to increase the prices; and

(e) the details of the drugs/medicines whose prices have been cut during the said period, drugs/medicine-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)

(a)to (e): The price fixation / revision is a continuous process under the provisions of DPCO. Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013) has come in to effect from 15.5.2013. Ceiling prices are fixed for all medicines as specified under National List of Essential Medicines- 2011 (NLEM-2011), which are under price control and which include 348 drugs covering 652 formulations. NPPA has notified the ceiling prices of 291 packs as first time fixation under DPCO, 2013. In all cases, prices have decreased as compared to existing market prices in respect of such drug formulations.

A statement containing fixation/revision of prices for the past three years and the current year is enclosed as Annexure.