NPPA to start SMS-based service for sending brand name of drugs with prices

NEW DELHI, 14 JULY: Consumers may soon be able to choose the cheapest brand of a drug prescribed by doctors. The government is set to roll out an SMS-based service where a consumer can send the brand name of a prescribed drug in a text message.

Dr Jagashetty selected member of sub-group on spurious & adulterated drugs

Bangalore, 15 July: Karnataka drugs controller Dr. BR Jagashetty has been selected as member of sub-group on spurious and adulterated drugs which will support the Task Force constituted to formulate a long term policy and strategy for strengthening of drug sector in the country. In fact, the sub group will deliberate on specific issues on the terms of reference of the constituted Task Force.

Private hospitals are not hotels to charge exorbitantly: SC

NEW DELHI, 6 JULY: Criticizing the city's big private hospitals for their steep charges, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that they are acting like star hotels and have not kept their promise to treat the poor -- 25% outdoor and 10% indoor -- free of cost. "You got the land at a very cheap rate from the government because of this promise. If you admit a poor patient but ask him to pay for everything, it is not free treatment," said a bench comprising Justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik as it gave the hospitals two weeks to prepare a comprehensive plan to give effective free treatment.

NPPA revises prices of three bulk drugs, 100 formulation packs

New Delhi, 5 July: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised prices of 100 formulation packs and three bulk drugs, namely cefadroxyl monohydrate, metronidazole and metronidazole benzoate. The agency has also removed methylprednisolone from the list of Scheduled drugs

Shift from medicines to food supplements under NPPA scanner

New Delhi, 1 July: Medicine price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is exploring ways to arrest the increasing trend among pharmaceutical companies to shift their products from the drug category to the dietary supplement and neutraceutical segment. Through such a shift, pharma companies are able to escape government price regulation. Noting that companies such as Ranbaxy, Merck, Trikko and Indochem, etc have in the past shifted some of the products from the medicine category and got manufacturing licences under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, NPPA has sought law ministry’s advice to tackle the situation.

NPPA asks pharma cos not to change prices fixed for scheduled bulk drugs while review petition under process

New Delhi, 30 June:The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has warned the companies against hiking the prices of bulk drugs under the scheduled category and its formulations while review petition is under process after the agency fixing the prices. The NPPA has asked the industry to make fresh application for revision of prices, if companies want to do so during this window period.

289 essential bulk drugs to come under price control

NEW DELHI , 30 JUNE:The government plans to bring medicines made from 289 essential bulk drugs, constituting nearly a third of the country's Rs 58,000-crore drug market, under price control, two people familiar with the development said.