Medicine selling staff at chemist shop should be trained: Paswan

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today suggested the Government that MPs and MLA's should be asked to earmark 20 per cent share from their Local Area Development (LAD) Fund to help patients suffering from cancer, heart and other serious diseases.

He was also of the view that staff working at chemists' shops should be trained enough to sell the right medicines.

Highlighting the achievements of his ministry during 2004-07, Mr Paswan said that Pharmaceutical Policy 2006 was submitted to the Cabinet on December 29, 2006 and it was referred to a Group of Ministers (GOM) on January 11, 2007. The GoM held its first meeting on April 10 this year and its decision is still pending.

The maximum retail price inclusive of all taxes was made effective from October 2, 2006 while the notification for the purpose was issued on June 26, 2006 giving more than three months to the industry to adopt the new pattern.

Trade margins for generic medicines have been restricted to 15 per cent for wholesalers and 35 per cent to retailers on batches manufactured after October 2, 2006, he added.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been asked to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to make it compulsory to print names of the medicines, manufacturing date, expiry date and MRP in hindi also in addition to the existing system of english, the Minister said.

A booklet of reduced prices of 886 medicines has been brought out and the revised prices of these medicines were to be implemented by the companies on packs manufactured after October 2/Novewmber 2, 2006. Out of 886 medicines (of 9 companies), 295 medicines with reduced prices are available in the Delhi market.

The Government has decided to extend purchase preference in favour of the pharma PSUs for purchase by Government Hospitals in respect of 102 drugs/formulations, Mr Paswan said and added that this would further help in revival of sick pharma PSUs and also in providing medicines at reduced price to public.

The Government has approved the revival proposal of Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd (HAL), Pune, and Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Kolkata. HAL was already implemented the measures as approved by the CCEA.

The efforts are being made to revive the Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Gurgaon). A committee has been set up to explore the possibility of revival of Bengal Immunity Ltd (BIL).

The Government has also approved the Assam Gas Cracker Project at a cost of around Rs 5,460 crore to produce 60,000 TPA at polypropylene and 2,20,000 TPA of High Density Polyethylene to generate about one lakh direct/indirect employment in North Eastern region.

The NIPER has filed 29 patents during the last three years and three patents have been granted. Further, NIPER Act, 1998 has been amended to empower Central Government to set up more NIPERs.

Proposal to set up more new NIPER in the country is at various stages of approval by the Government, the Minister said.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is being strengthened. Prices of 278 bulk drugs fixed/revised. Prices of formulation packs fixed/revised.

The NPPA has also been empowered to monitor the price increase from earlier 20 per cent to 10 per cent per annum in respect of non-scheduled formulations.

Mr Paswan also informed that claims of 5,74,327 Bhopal gas victims have been settled and an amount of Rs 1,546.32 crore has been disbursed.

UNI