Lok Sabha Question No. 4168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-28
Subject: Affordable Medicines
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: RAKESH SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4168 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28th March, 2017

## Affordable Medicines

†4168. SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

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

- (a) the details of the steps taken to make medicines available at affordable rates in the country and the achievements made so far, in this regard;
- (b)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  physicians  do  not  prescribe  generic  medicines  and  they make excuses in this regard;
- (c) if so, whether the Government has taken any action in this matter;
- (d) if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  launch  any  campaign  to  create  awareness among the common people regarding generic medicines and 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):  After  the  Drugs  (Prices  Control)  Order,  2013  (DPCO,  2013)  was  notified  on 15.05.2013, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has notified the ceiling prices of 530 formulations which appeared in Schedule-I of DPCO, 2013. Subsequently, the  Government  amended the  Schedule-I of  the  above  said  Order  on  10.03.2016  by including the medicines in the National List of Essential Medicines 2015 (NLEM, 2015). The  NPPA  has  so  far  fixed  prices  of  664  formulations  of  the  revised  Schedule-I. Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  vide  their  notification  dated  19.07.2016  included coronary  stents  in  NLEM,  2015.  Subsequently,  the  Department  of  Pharmaceuticals amended  Schedule-I  for  including  coronary  stents  in  it  vide  its  notification  dated 21.12.2016.  NPPA  vide  notification  no.  S.O.  412(E)  dated  13.02.2017  has  fixed  the ceiling prices of coronary stents under two categories i.e. Bare Metal Stent at INR 7260 per  unit  and  Drug  Eluting  Stents  (DES)  including  metallic  DES  and  Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS)/ Biodegradable Stents in INR 29600 per unit. This resulted in reduction of the cost of stents by 85% which benefitted the patients.
- (b): It has been reported that many physicians do not prescribe generics substitute which are available for branded medicines.
- (c)  &  (d):  The  Government  is  taking  various  steps  for  encouraging  use  of  generic medicines.  The  Medical  Council  of  India  has  amended  the  Indian  Medical  Council (Professional  Conduct,  Etiquette  and  Ethics)  Regulations,  2002  on  08.10.2016  to provide a new para regarding use of generic names of drugs in prescription.
- (e):  The  Government  is  operating  a  Scheme,  'Pradhan  Mantri  Bhartiya  Janaushadhi Pariyojna' (PMBJP) for providing quality generic medicines at affordable prices in the country.  Various  publicity  media  are  being  used  to  popularize  the  PMBJP  and  for creating awareness of generic medicines.

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