Question : Drug Price Control Order

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

(a) whether the Drug Price Control Order, 2013 has a provision for price revision of essential drugs;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the basis on which such revision is undertaken indicating the revision carried out since its inception;

(c) whether the Government proposes to lower the prices of the essential medicines during the current year and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether a number of Drugs companies have opposed the move of the Government; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

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) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Drugs (Prices Control) Order 2013 (DPCO, 2013) has provisions where prices of the Scheduled medicines are revised as per the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and also as and when the National List of Essential Medicines is revised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare or five years from the date of fixing the ceiling price under this order, whichever is earlier.

(c): Yes, Madam. As per the provisions of DPCO, 2013, the Government proposes to fix/reduce the prices of medicines appearing in Schedule I of DPCO, 2013. Ceiling prices of 680 scheduled formulations listed in the revised Schedule I {i.e. National List of Essential Medicines 2015 (NLEM-2015)} have been notified in the year 2016-17 (upto 10th March 2017), wherein there was a reduction in prices from the existing market prices in respect of all medicines. Besides, ceiling prices of coronary stents have been notified on 13th February 2017, which resulted in nearly 85% decrease in prices of Bare Metal Stents and nearly 74% decrease in the prices of Drug Eluting Stents.

(d) & (e): The Pharmaceutical companies, if aggrieved by the price notifications of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), can file a review under para 31 of DPCO, 2013 to the Government. These are examined on merits after giving Hearing. The final decisions are conveyed to the companies and also uploaded on the website of the Department i.e. www.pharmaceuticals.gov.in.

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