Pharma Advisory Forum meets on Apr 23 on pricing

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) The fourth meeting of the Pharmaceutical Advisory Forum will begin here on April 23 to discuss availability and prices of medicines.

The Forum, set up for a comprehensive dialogue amongst all the stakeholders on various issues concerning the drug policy, will discuss reduction of the price increase ceiling for non-scheduled formulations reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.

So far, this Forum has held three meetings. The last meeting was held on May 15 last year.

Minister of Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister of State for Chemicals, Fertilisers and Mines BK Handique, Health Ministers from various states, and others dignitaries are expected to attend the meeting.

The Forum is to serve as centre stage for day to day grievances/policy changes on issues relating to drugs and pharmaceuticals on a routine basis.

The upcoming meeting would focus on the following issues pertaining to pharmaceuticals and healthcare: --States may provide feedback regarding procurement of NLEM drugs and popularisation of generics.

--Inputs regarding developments and major decisions taken by the Department and the NPPA during the last one year.

--Reduction of the price increase ceiling for non-Scheduled formulations reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.

--Action taken under para 10(b) of DPCO'95 --Reduction in Excise Duty from 16 per cent to 8 per cent in the Union Budget --Latest position of pricing and availability of 886 medicines, where the industry has reduced the price voluntarily --Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana-Feedback from States Feedback on the report of working groups: --Working Group on Health Insurance and Drug Banks, District Illness Fund and Cancer Assistance Fund Working Group for comprehensive Scheme for Consumer Awareness in drug prices, generic drugs and other related issues --Feedback on Regional level meetings held by NPPA at Guwahati, Ahemdabad and New Delhi.

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