NPPA fixes retail prices of drugs
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority of India also known as NPPA has pre-set the ceiling and retail prices of 56 medicines (excluding the GST). These drugs are used in treating illnesses namely, anxiety disorders, diabetes, Hepatitis C and cardiac-related ailments. The provisions are made under the Drug Order (Prices Control) 2013.
The prices have been fixed for every firm which marketed and manufactured these drugs. Amongst these 56 medicines, there are some drugs which are lifesavers, if used in combinations. For example, Sofosbuvir and Ledipasvir tablets are used for treating Hepatitis C and Teneligliptin Metformin tablet (Teneblu M Forte) which is for treating diabetic patients.
The announcement of this order has been done on the website and for wider knowledge; it also has been also released on the social media sites. This was done for the insurance that awareness about the prices of the medicines could reach its consumers.
To check the details on the links given below.
http://www.nppaindia.nic.in/ceiling/press04July18/FormulationPrices(50).pdf
http://www.nppaindia.nic.in/ceiling/press04July18/FormulationPrices(6).pdf
http://www.nppaindia.nic.in/ceiling/press04July18/FormulationPrices(2).pdf
What is Drug Order, 2013?
The provision of fixing/revising the prices for the 56 medicinal drugs is done under the Drug (Prices Control) Order, 2013. It also mentioned that adding GST to the prices of these drugs should only be done if the retailer/dealer has paid in the first place, otherwise the prices will remain as they are mentioned by the government in the order.
They made necessary for the retailers and dealers to display both price and supplementary price list. If any shortcoming is found in this, the respective marketer/manufacturer will be held responsible for overcharging of the drugs under the provisions of the DPCO, 2013 along with the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
The function of the national drug pricing regulator is also to keep a check on the prices of these decontrolled drugs. This is done to maintain the reasonable levels of these drugs.