(a) whether there is a wide gap between the retail and wholesale prices of medicines;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether any step has been taken to reduce the price gap between the wholesale and retail
prices of medicines;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the time by which the steps are likely to be taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS AND MINISTER
OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
(SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a)to (e): Government has notified the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013) on 15th
May 2013 in supersession of DPCO, 1995. All the medicines specified in the National List of
Essential Medicines 2011 have been included in the first schedule of DPCO, 2013 and brought
under price control. DPCO, 2013 provides for fixation of ceiling price with a provision of
only 16% margin to retailer on the PTR (Price to Retailer). National Pharmaceutical Pricing
Authority has so far, notified the ceiling prices in respect of 291 medicines under provisions
of the said order. As regards non-scheduled drugs, there is no provision of fixation of ceiling
prices.