(a) whether it is a fact that medicines for cancer are being sold at exorbitant prices;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the names of imported
and indigenous products being marketed;
(c) whether these products are under price decontrol,
(d) the maximum retail price of each and the margin of retailers;
(e) whether NPPA is monitoring the price increase; and
(f) if so, the details of prices increased for each product during each of the last three years?
THE MINISTER OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS & MINISTER OF STEEL (SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) to (f) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.403 FOR ANSWER ON 24.8.2004 REGARDING PRICE OF
MEDICINES.
(a) to (f) : The Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 (DPCO,1995)
was promulgated by the Government vide S.O. 18(E) dated 6.1.1995.
The 74 bulk drugs specified in its First Schedule and the formulations
based thereon are under price control and their prices are fixed/
revised by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in
accordance with the provisions of the DPCO,1995. These drugs have
been identified for inclusion under price control in the DPCO,95, on
the basis of criteria mentioned in the ‘Modifications in Drug Policy,
1986,’ announced in September,1994. These criteria take into account
the extent of usage and the market competition of various drugs.
None of the 74 bulk drugs specified in the First Schedule of DPCO,95
is an anti-cancer drug.
Prices of non-Scheduled formulations are fixed by the
manufacturers themselves keeping in view the various factors like
cost of production, marketing/selling expenses, R&D expenses, trade
commission, market competition, product innovation, product quality
etc. The Government takes corrective measures when the public
interest is found to be adversely affected.
NPPA has not noticed any significant price increase in
respect of anti-cancer drugs. Some of the major drugs including
injections with considerable sale value include NEOTREXATE, LETOVAL,
MISOPROST, LETROZ, LUPRIDE, CYTOLOG, INTAXEL. Their retail prices
vary from approx. Rs.38/- to approx. Rs.3460/-. Details are enclosed.
The medicine referred to at S.No. 1 is fully imported in finished form.
As regards Sl. Nos. 2,4 and 5 these medicines are indigenously
manufactured by M/s. Sun Pharma. The formulation at Sl. No. 6 is
manufactured in India, based on imported bulk drug. Information with
regard to Sl. No.s. 3, 7 and 8 is not immediately available.