Lok Sabha Question No. 926 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Cost of Drugs for Critical Diseases
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 926

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 nd  November, 2016

## Cost of Drugs for Critical Diseases

926. SHRI D.S. RATHOD:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government plans to reduce the cost of drugs in the country for  treatment  of  critical  diseases,  heart  attack,  knee  replacement,  kidney problem etc.; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY OF SHIPPING AND MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) & (b): The Government has notified the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO-2013) on 15 th  May, 2013 to control the prices of medicines in the country. As per the provisions of DPCO-2013, to control the prices of  essential  medicines  National  Pharmaceutical  Pricing  Authority  (NPPA) has fixed the prices of medicines appearing in Schedule 1 of DPCO-2013. The  above  action  of  the  government  has  resulted  in  saving  to  the consumers  to  the  tune  of  approximately  Rs.  5060.30  crores  which includes medicines for critical diseases.

The ceiling prices fixed by NPPA in some of the essential medicines used for treatment of critical diseases is as under:

| Sl. No.                                   | Medicines                                       | Dosage Form & Strength                                                                         | Unit/Pack Size                            | Ceiling Price (Rs.)                       |
|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| Disease: Rheumatoid disorders (Knee Pain) | Disease: Rheumatoid disorders (Knee Pain)       | Disease: Rheumatoid disorders (Knee Pain)                                                      | Disease: Rheumatoid disorders (Knee Pain) | Disease: Rheumatoid disorders (Knee Pain) |
| (i)                                       | Azathioprine                                    | Tablet 50 mg                                                                                   | 1 Tablet                                  | 9.02                                      |
| (ii)                                      | Hydroxychloroquine                              | Tablet 200 mg                                                                                  | 1 Tablet                                  | 5.50                                      |
| (iii)                                     | Leflunomide                                     | Tablet 400 mg Tablet 10 mg Tablet 20 mg                                                        | 1 Tablet 1 Tablet 1 Tablet                | 11.08 9.30 18.13                          |
| Disease: Antiretroviral medicines (HIV)   | Disease: Antiretroviral medicines (HIV)         | Disease: Antiretroviral medicines (HIV)                                                        | Disease: Antiretroviral medicines (HIV)   | Disease: Antiretroviral medicines (HIV)   |
| (iv)                                      | Abacavir                                        | Tablet 60 mg Tablet 300 mg                                                                     | 1 Tablet                                  | 43.76                                     |
| (v)                                       | Abacavir (A)+ Lamivudine (B)                    | Tablet 60 mg (A) + 30 mg (B)                                                                   | 1 Tablet 1 Tablet                         | 44.70 84.55                               |
| (vi)                                      | Lamivudine (A) + Nevirapine (B) + Stavudine (C) | Dispensable Tablet 30 mg (A) + 50 mg (B) + 6 mg (C) Tablet 150 mg (A) + 200 mg (B) + 30 mg (C) |                                           |                                           |
| Cardiovascular medicines                  | Cardiovascular medicines                        | Cardiovascular medicines                                                                       | Cardiovascular medicines                  | Cardiovascular medicines                  |
| (vii)                                     | Clopidogrel                                     | Tablet 75 mg                                                                                   | 1 Tablet                                  | 6.44                                      |
| (viii)                                    | Isosorbide-5- mononitrate                       | Tablet 10 mg Tablet 20 SR Tablet 30 mg SR Tablet 60 mg                                         | 1 Tablet 1 Tablet                         | 4.54 5.92                                 |
| (ix)                                      | Metoprolol                                      | Tablet 25 mg Tablet 50mg                                                                       | 1 Tablet 1 Tablet                         | 2.88 4.36                                 |

|                                     |                                     | SR Tablet 25 mg SR Tablet 50mg Capsule 25 mg Capsule 50 mg                                                                                                                               | 1 Tablet 1 Tablet 1 Capsule 1 Capsule   | 3.75 5.35 3.92 5.98                 |
|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Medicines used in diabetes mellitus | Medicines used in diabetes mellitus | Medicines used in diabetes mellitus                                                                                                                                                      | Medicines used in diabetes mellitus     | Medicines used in diabetes mellitus |
| (x)                                 | Glimepiride                         | Tablet 1 mg Tablet 2 mg                                                                                                                                                                  | 1 Tablet 1 Tablet                       | 3.33 5.29                           |
| (xi)                                | Isulin (Soluble)                    | Injection 40 IU/ml                                                                                                                                                                       | 1 ml 1 ml                               | 13.34 13.40                         |
| (xii)                               | Metformin                           | Tablet 500 mg (controlled release) Tablet 500 mg (Immediate release) Tablet 750 mg (Immediate and controlled release) Tablet 1000 mg controlled release Tablet 1000 mg Immediate release | 1 Tablet 1 Tablet 1 Tablet 1 Tablet     | 1.77 1.39 3.38 3.34                 |

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