In a significant step to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices for common citizens, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) brought many scheduled formulations, scheduled medical devices, non scheduled anti cancer drug formulations and drugs under its price regulation.
NPPA has fixed ceiling prices of 886 scheduled formulations, 4 scheduled medical devices and fixed retail prices of 1,817 new drugs, the parliament was informed on Tuesday.
In case of non-scheduled medicines, a manufacturer is at liberty to fix the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) launched by it, but is not allowed to increase the MRP of such formulations by more than 10 per cent per annum.
The pricing authority also fixed the ceiling price of Orthopaedic Knee Implants. Moreover, under “Trade Margin Rationalisation” approach, the NPPA has fixed trade margin of non-scheduled formulations of 42 selected anti-cancer medicines, and recently during COVID-19 pandemic, regulated the prices of oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeter, Blood Pressure Monitoring machines, nebulizer, digital thermometer and glucometer.
The government had also launched Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) with an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all. Under PMBJP, dedicated outlets are opened to provide quality generic medicines at cheaper rates to the citizens. Under the scheme, till 28 February 2022, about 8,689 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) have been opened covering all districts of the country.
Jan Aushadhi Medicines are cheaper by 50 -90 per cent of market prices of branded medicines. During the current financial year (till 28 February 2022), total sales of Rs 814.21 crores has been achieved, which has led to estimated savings of approximately Rs. 4,800 cr. to the citizens.
The product basket of PMBJP comprises of few drugs and 200+ surgical instruments. New medicines and nutraceuticals products like malt-based food supplements, protein powder, immunity bar, protein bar, sanitizer, glucometer, masks, oximeter, etc. have been launched.
Presently, three IT-enabled warehouses of PMBJP are functional at Gurugram, Chennai & Guwahati and the fourth one is ready to start operations at Surat. Also, 39 distributors have been nominated across the country to help the supply of medicines to remote and rural areas.
In order to attain self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector, develop global champions and to retain the position of the country as ‘Pharmacy of the world’, the government has launched two Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. PLI scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates (DIs)/ Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) was launched with a total financial outlay of Rs. 6,940 crore. Under the scheme, 49 applicants have already been approved.
The other PLI Scheme for pharmaceuticals has a total financial outlay of Rs. 15,000 crore. Under this scheme, 55 applicants have been selected. In addition, the department has launched a scheme for promotion of bulk drug parks with a total outlay of Rs. 3,000 crores wherein financial assistance is to be provided for creation of Common Infrastructure Facilities in 3 bulk drug parks.
WhatsApp us