Mumbai: Price caps on 856 essential medicines fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) have resulted in savings of Rs 11,462 crore for patients, said minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers Mansukh L Mandaviya. While giving a written reply in the Lok Sabha, he stated that no shortage in coronary stents was reported after their ceiling prices were fixed last year.
At present, prices have been fixed for 856 formulations, including four medical devices, which are covered under Schedule–I of the Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO), 2013.
According to paragraph 20 of the DPCO, the NPPA monitors the maximum retail prices (MRPs) of all drugs, including the non-scheduled formulations, and ensures no manufacturer can increase it over 10% of the MRP in preceding twelve months.
The department of pharmaceuticals has also launched ‘Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)’ in order to make quality generic medicines at affordable prices through specific outlets. As of date, 4,571 PMBJP outlets are functional across the country, Mandaviya said.
