Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Department of Pharmaceuticals has any scheme to monitor the prices of medicines;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken steps for consumer awareness on exorbitant prices of the medicines in the country; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)
(a) & (b): The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) fixes/ revises and monitors the ceiling price of scheduled medicines specified in the first schedule of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013). It also monitors the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of the non-scheduled medicines as per the provisions of Para 20 of the DPCO, 2013. NPPA has a Central Sector Scheme, viz., Consumer Awareness, Publicity and Price Monitoring (CAPPM). Under this scheme, NPPA sets up Price Monitoring and Resource Units (PMRUs) in the State/ Union Territories. Till now, PMRUs have been set up in seventeen (17) States.
(c) & (e): Under the CAPPM Scheme advertising & publicity campaign/ seminars/ workshops/ webinars etc. are organised from time to time. Apart from this, consumers are made aware about the Price fixation and availability of medicines from time to time under the scheme. During the financial year 2019-20, NPPA carried out various multimedia advertising and publicity activities across the country on “Reduction in the prices of Anti-Cancer drugs, Heart Stents, Knee Implants and General Medicines” through Hoardings, LED Screens, Newspapers, Airing of Radio Jingles and Social Media. Further, seminars and workshops were organized at various places on the ‘Availability, Accessibility and Affordability of Medicines for all’.
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