Question : REGULATING PRICES OF PATENTED DRUGS

(a) whether the Government proposes to monitor/regulate/reduce the prices ofpatented drugs in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not,the reasons therefor;

(c) the reaction of the drugs industry in the regard and the likely impact of such a move on the prices of generic and locally produced drugs for domestic use and forexport;

(d) whether a Committee constituted by the Government to study the prices of patented drugs has submitted its report;and

(e) if so, the findings of the said report and the action taken by the Government on the recommendations contained therein?

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

(a) to (e) To address the issues of Price Negotiation mechanismsfor patented drugs a Committee was setup. The Committee’s report was put on the public domain for wider publicity for inviting comments from stakeholders. Observing the diverse opinion of different stakeholders received by the Government, an Inter-ministerial Committee of Joint Secretaries to look into the issues and to suggest ways and means to fix the prices of patented drugs in the country has been formed.