Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the production cost of non-controlled drugs is many times higher than that of controlled drugs and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has formulated any policy to lower the prices of drugs for cancer and other life saving drugs; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY OF SHIPPING AND MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)
(a): The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy-2012 (NPPP, 2012) has shifted the methodology of price fixation from cost-based to market-based pricing. As such, the data for comparison of production cost of non-controlled medicines with controlled medicines is not maintained in the Department.
(b): In view of reply to (a) above, occasion does not arise.
(c) & (d): The ceiling prices of formulations / drugs listed in National List of Essential Medicines, 2015 (NLEM 2015) and hence included in revised Schedule-I of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013) are notified as per provisions of DPCO, 2013. Accordingly, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the ceiling prices of 851 scheduled formulations under DPCO, 2013 which also include anti-cancer and other life saving medicines.
xxxxx