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The Indonesian Health Minister, Mrs. Siti Fadilah Supari today called on the Union Health Minister, Dr. A. Ramadoss and sought India’s cooperation in lowering drug prices in her country. She evinced keen interest in knowing how India was able to keep the prices of essential drugs under strict control. It was explained to her that India has a National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), which oversees prices of essential drugs. There is also a Drug Control Prices Order, which is issued by the NPPA to keep a watch over drug prices, she was informed. The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare explained to the visiting Minister that India was the 4th largest pharmaceutical producer and the prices of drugs in India were kept in check through healthy competition. The Minister also explained that till December, India was under process patent and from January, it has moved to product patent in keeping with WTO norms. Over 90% of basic and essential drugs are off patent list.
The Indonesian delegation desired to know the names of bulk drug units that could assist them in bringing down drug prices. The delegation also sought the cooperation of Indian Government in improving hospital management and bringing down the cost of critical procedures. The Minister explained to the Indonesian Health Minister that India is vigorously promoting medical tourism and was in the process of accrediting 50 allopathic hospitals where the cost of critical medical procedures and treatment procedures would be fixed. The Indonesian delegation also sought the support of Indian Government in relisting of an Indonesian company producing polio vaccine for the WHO. The Health Minister said that the regulatory authorities in India and Indonesia could work out a joint inspection programme for visiting this drug producing unit to ensure that all procedures are being followed.
EK/NSR
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