Boosting the production of price controlled medicines

New Delhi, Aug 11 (UNI) The 74 bulk drugs specified in the First Schedule of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 (DPCO,95) and the formulations based thereon are under price control and their prices are fixed/revised by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in accordance with the provisions of the DPCO, 95.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers B K Handique said these drugs have been kept under price control on the basis of criteria mentioned in 'Modifications in Drug Policy, 1986', announced in September 1994.

The NPPA has no specific information regarding the fact that over the last one decade, about a fifth of all medicines, which government have kept under price control, have either smartly escaped the control norms or have been abandoned by companies in favour of imports and the number of companies selling controlled medicines such as antipsychotic drug Chloropropamide and Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) have come down significantly, the Minister pointed out.

However, no specific case of shortage of these drugs recently has come to the notice of NPPA, he added.

On FDI in fertilizer sector, Mr Handique informed that the total inflow of FDI to the sector during January 1, 2000 to April 30, 2004 has been Rs 259.63 crore.

The extent of FDI in this sector is dependent upon general investment climate in the country as well as overall policy framework regulating it from time to time.

Regarding Pharmaceutical Policy, the Minister said that the proposed National Pharmaceutical Policy 2006 inter-alia, includes schemes for providing accessibility of drugs to the poor especially the BPL families and strengthening of PSUs.

Comments of various Departments/Ministries on the draft Policy have been received and the draft policy is likely to be placed before the Cabinet for approval shortly. No specific time frame can be mentioned about finalisation of the Policy, he added.

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