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A Committee under the Chairmanship of Joint Secretary (PI) was constituted to examine the span of price control (including trade margin) in the light of National Common Minimum Programme and the observations of the Supreme Court in SLP No (C) 3668/2003 and to suggest measures for fulfilling the objective of National Common Minimum Programme to ensure the availability of life-saving drugs at reasonable prices. This Committee has submitted its Interim Report to the Government. The Committee has recommended, inter-alia, intensive monitoring on the prices of all those drugs out of the selected basket (National List of Essential Medicines), 2003 which are not under price control, ceilings on trade margins of drugs, a system of price negotiations for the new patented drugs, special schemes for people below poverty line, introduction of Rajasthan Model of Life Line Fluid Stores (Hospital pharmacy stores run by medicare societies) for bulk purchase of drugs directly from manufacturer and selling them at reduced prices, compounding of offences under the Essential Commodities Act, establishment of DPCO cells in all states on the model of Karnataka, price negotiations at the time of launching of a new patented drug, efforts to increase public awareness, wide publicity to policies and decisions of the government and NPPA etc.
A task force has been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Principal Advisor (PP), Planning Commission to explore various options other than price control for achieving the objective of making available life saving drugs at reasonable prices.
This information was given today in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Steel, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply to a question.
BJ:KK
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