Lok Sabha Question No. 487 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: National List of Essential Medicines
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: V. SATHYABAMA, PR. SENTHILNATHAN, R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 487

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 th  February, 2018

## National List of Essential Medicines

487. SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA: SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN: SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  included  cancer  and  diabetes  drugs  as  well  as medicines for heart and lung ailments under the Drug Price Control Order as a part of the New List of Essential Medicines and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that due to shortage of supply, life saving drugs are  being  sold  at  high  prices  in  market  by  private  pharma  companies  and  private hospitals;
- (c)  the  steps  taken/  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  affordability  and availability of drugs for cancer, diabetes, lung and heart ailments; and
- (d)  the  total  volume  and  value  of  the  cancer  drugs  produced  and  supplied  within  the country and those of imported drugs and medicine from countries abroad during the last three years?

## 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):  Yes,  Madam.  The  Drugs  (Prices  Control)  Order,  2013  (DPCO-2013)  includes various medicines under Anti-Cancer (72 formulations), Cardio Vascular (65 formulations),  Anti-TB  (Lung)(28  formulations)  and  Anti-Diabetic  (12  formulations)  in Schedule-1 for price control.
- (b): No such report has been received in the Department.
- (c): National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has fixed the ceiling prices of medicines appearing in various strength / dosages form in Schedule-I of DPCO, 2013 which  also  includes  medicines  used  for  cancer,  diabetes,  lung  and  heart  ailments. Further, the DPCO, 2013 has provisions under which the Government can fix the ceiling price of any drug in public interest. Till December 2017, the government has fixed the ceiling  prices  of  851  medicines  under  revised  Schedule  -  I  based  on  National  List  of Essential  Medicines,  2015  (NLEM,  2015)  which  also  includes  drugs  used  for  cancer, diabetes, heart and lung ailments. The Government by implementing the provisions of DPCO, 2013 has helped the consumers make the following savings:-

| Particulars                              | Saving to Consumers in Rs. Crores   |
|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| NLEM 2011                                | 2,422.24                            |
| NLEM 2015                                | 2,643.37                            |
| NLEM 2015 - Coronary Stents              | 4,450.00                            |
| Para 19 - Knee Implants                  | 1,500.00                            |
| Para 19 - Cardio and Anti Diabetic drugs | 350.00                              |
| Grand Total                              | 11,365.61                           |

- (d): No such data is maintained in the Department. However, as per available data from various port offices of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the total volume and value of the cancer drugs with quantum and value of imported drugs during the period 2014 to 2017 (till date) is as under:

## Details of Import of Cancer drugs (Bulk Drugs):

| Year           |   Quantity (Kg) |   Value (Rs. in crore) |
|----------------|-----------------|------------------------|
| 2014           |           15269 |                   29.2 |
| 2015           |           69628 |                   28.4 |
| 2016           |          141828 |                   58.5 |
| 2017 till date |          356387 |                   57.1 |

## Details of Import of Cancer drugs (Finished Formulations):

| Year           | Quantity (Nos.)      |   Value (Rs. in crore) |
|----------------|----------------------|------------------------|
| 2014           | 805189               |                    424 |
| 2015           | 1364869 +0.01kg      |                    855 |
| 2016           | 2153573              |                    915 |
| 2017 till date | 1532974 + 0.16005 kg |                    808 |

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