New Delhi, 18 June 2013: The consumers are all set to start getting the benefit of new price regime, as per the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013 controlling the prices of essential drugs, by the end of July.
In the first batch of revision of prices, according to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy 2012, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the prices of 151 formulations that come under the essential drugs to begin the process.
The new prices, fixed as per the formula under the DPCO, will come into effect within 45 days of the NPPA notification which was dated June 14, the NPPA said.
Some of the drugs whose prices have been fixed are insulin, ibuprofen, metronidazole combinations, dexamethazone combinations, rifampicin combinations, carbamazepine etc.
According to the new pricing policy, the ceiling of prices will be done based on the simple average of the prices of all brands of that drug that have a market share of at least one per cent. The national list of essential medicines lists 348 bulk drugs, which are sold as 650 formulations.
“The manufacturers of above mentioned scheduled formulations having maximum retail price higher than the ceiling price specified shall revise the MRP to an amount not exceeding the ceiling price plus local taxes, wherever applicable in accordance with paragraph 13 (1) and 24 of the DPCO, 2013. The manufacturers may add local taxes only if they have paid actually to the Government on the ceiling price mentioned,” said the notification.
“All the existing manufacturers of revised scheduled formulations having MRP lower than the ceiling price specified plus local taxes as applicable, if any, shall continue to maintain the existing MRP in accordance with paragraph 13 (2) of the DPCO, 2013. Where an existing manufacturer of scheduled formulation with dosage or strength or both as specified in the above table, launches a new drug as per paragraph 2 (u) of DPCO, 2013 then such existing manufacturer shall apply for prior price approval of such new drug to the NPPA in Form I as specified under schedule-II of the DPCO, 2013,” it said.
“Any manufacturer intending to discontinue above said scheduled formulation shall furnish information to the NPPA, in respect of discontinuation of the production and/ or import of schedules formulation in Form-IV of scheduled-II of the DPCO, 2013 at least six months prior to the indented date of discontinuation. The manufacturer not complying with the ceiling price and notes specified hereinabove in this notification, shall be liable to deposit overcharged amount along with the interest thereon under the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 read with the Essential Commodities Act, 1955,” it said.
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