(a) whether the Government is planning to change the present system
of essential drugs;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Supreme Court has issued an order directing the
Government not to alter the present essential drugs pricing system;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(e) the response of the Government to such directions with suitable
answers and to go ahead with changes as proposed by the
Government?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (lNDEPENDENT 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)&(b): The Department of Pharmaceuticals had prepared a draft National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2011 (NPPP-2011)
based on the criteria of essentiality as per the medicines as under National List of Essential Medicines-2011, as stipulated
by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The draft National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2011 (NPPP-2011) was
circulated among the concerned Ministries/Stakeholders, The draft Policy was also available for comments of any other
interested person on the Department`s website www.pharmaceuticals.gov.in. The views/inputs received on the draft
NPPP-2011 were examined and the matter was placed before the Group of Ministers (GoM). Based on the recommendations of the
GoM, National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy-2012(NPPP-2012) was formulated and placed before the Cabinet. The Cabinet
considered NPPP-2012 in its meeting held on 22.11.2012 and approved the same with certain modifications.
(c); No such final order has been given by the Hon`ble Supreme Court,
(d) & (e): In view of the reply (c) above, does not arise.