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Decision on new drug pricing policy by mid-November
Thursday October 11, 2012 06:14:53 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: The central
government Thursday told the Supreme Court that it would decide on
the new National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy by mid-November and
the same would be notified in the week thereafter. The court said
it should not trigger any hike in the price of drugs in the
market.
Appearing for the central government, Additional Solicitor General
Siddhartha Luthra informed about the government decision in
response to persistent queries by the apex court bench of Justice
G.S. Singhvi and Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya, seeking to know the
time frame by which the new drug pricing policy would be
implemented.
The government's response came after the court made its
displeasure known in no uncertain terms over the failure of the
government to categorically respond to its last order seeking to
know the time schedule of the decision that is hanging fire for
the past so many years.
The court made it clear that the new NPPP (National Pharmaceutical
Pricing Policy) which the government was bringing should not
trigger any hike in the drug prices that are available in the
market under the drug price control order.
The court said the pricing mechanism that was been followed since
1999 should not be trifled with. However, the court said that its
cap in drug prices should not affect normal hike in drug prices on
account of increase in cost of inputs like raw material,
packaging, labour cost and other components.
Earlier on Oct 3, in its bid to protect the interest of the common
man, the court had told the government not to disturb the existing
retail price mechanism of drugs under the price control order
while finalising the list of essential medicines.
The judges had observed that the prices of the drugs were so high
that it left the patient with the option of either to die or buy
medicines by selling one's land or ornaments.
The judges had chided the government for taking so long in
increasing the number of important medicines under the National
List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
The court had wondered why things had not unmoved for nine years
and had told the government to bring more essential medicines
within the reach of the common man.
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