New guidelines on non-scheduled drugs prices

New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has decided to revise the guidelines for monitoring of prices of non-scheduled formulations.

This has been done in pursuance of Resolution No. 33/7/97-PI.I.

dated 29.08.1997 issued as per the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 read with Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

The revised guidelines are as follows: The monitoring of prices of non-scheduled formulations will continue to be on the basis of regular data from ORG IMS.

Companies will be short listed where there is an increase in price of a non-scheduled formulation by more than 10 per cent during a period of 12 months and the annual turnover of the formulation pack exceeds Rs one crore.

Further, the share of the formulator in that segment of the formulation is required to be at least 20 per cent of the market or the medicine is one of the first three top medicines of that group.

The manufacturer will be asked to furnish reasons for such price increases or to bring it down voluntarily and to maintain the its levels.

NPPA will initiate action against those who do not comply with its internal guidelines or directions for monitoring of prices of non-scheduled formulations and will be liable for action under para 10(b) of DPCO, 1995.

UNI