Lok Sabha Question No. 4068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-09
Subject: Shortage of Life Saving Drugs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA, RABINDRA KUMAR JENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4068 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH DECEMBER, 2016

## SHORTAGE OF LIFE SAV ING DRUGS

## 4068. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA: SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is shortage of certain life saving drugs including D - Penicillamine and Human Albumin Serum;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and remedial measures taken in this regard;
- (c) whether the price cap on such drugs are causing a supply gap and the view of th  Government in this regard;
- (d) the other reasons identified by the Ministry for sudden shortage of drugs; and
- (e) whether there is any other life saving dr ug which faces a supply demand gap in the market and steps the Government propose to take to ensure that the life saving drugs are easily available to the needy?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a): Reports of shortage of D - Penicillamine drug have been received from different parts of the country. Shortage of Human albumin serum was reported in the Financial Year 2015 - 16. However,  no  report  of  shortage  of  Human  Albumin  Serum  has  been  recei ved duringlast  6 months.
- (b): National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA), Department of Pharmaceuticals has informed  that all  complaints  on  shortage  of  D -Pencillamine  are  being  sent  to  the  concerned manufacturers on regular basis with instructions to increase supply of the drug in the affected areas.  NPPA  has  facilitated  40  patients  and  made  medicines  available  to  them  thro manufacturers. A meeting was also held at the level of Drugs Controller General (India) w the  manufacturers  were  advi sed  to  ensure  that  the  shortage  is  redressed.  One  of  th manufacturers  informed  that  they  have  launched  a websitewww.cilamin.com,  a  whatsapp Group,  a  Twiter  handle,  and  a  facebook  page  for  support,  monitoring  and  rea l  time communication regarding availability of the drug. Accordingly, a notice has been placed website  of the Central  Drugs  Standard  Control  Organisation  (CDSCO)  to  the  effect  that  an person  facing  any  difficulty  with  regard  to  availability  of  D - Pen cillamine may  contact  the concerned manufacturer through the above communication channel.
- (c): The ceiling price of Pencillamine 250 mg capsule was fixed by NPPA as Rs.13.23 vi SO 1686 (E) on 09.05.2016 which implies a reduction of only 5.1% with reference to the highest existing market price. Thus price cap could not be causing shortage of the drugs in the co
- (d): The constraints on account of availability of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (AP to the shortage of D - penicillamine drug.
- (e): NPPA  have  informed  that  they  have  received  two  complaints  regarding  shortage  o Desferrioxamine, which is used in the treatment of Thalassaemia. The complaints so rec were taken up with the concerned manufacturer who have replied that the product is available in adequate quantity in the country.