Question : Price of Medical Equipments

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is considering to control/reduce the prices of medical equipment like stent catheter and implants;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the possible adverse impact on foreign investment being made in this sector as a consequence thereof;

(c) whether this initiative of the Government has been opposed by some departments/sections; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a): Yes, Madam

(b),(c) and (d) : A meeting of Committee of Secretaries, to discuss the mechanism for a separate price control order and a separate vertical within National pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for medical devices, was held under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary. After deliberation, certain decisions were taken. In pursuance of the decision taken in the meeting, the Department of Pharmaceuticals had called a meeting with the representatives of various leading manufacturers of medical Devices. After detailed deliberations the following decisions were taken:-

(i) All manufacturers of stents/Implants will provide the information regarding ‘Price to retailer’ and ‘Maximum Retail Price’ in Form V appended to Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, to NPPA positively by 30th Nov 2015.
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(ii) In the first week of December, the manufacturers will voluntarily propose a reduction in the marketing expenses of these products and consequentially on the MRP.

(iii) The Department of Pharmaceuticals may consider issuing a letter to the Industry Associations to consider voluntary disclosure and self-regulation of marketing expenses.

(iv) The self-regulation by the industry will be reviewed on the basis of information submitted by the industry to NPPA in Form V and a decision on statutory regulation will be taken subsequently.



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