Lok Sabha Question No. 244 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Hike in Price by NPPA
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Bhagwanth Khuba

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 244 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th  February, 2020

## Hike in Price by NPPA

## 244. SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

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

- (a)  whether the Government is aware of the fact that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing  Authority  (NPPA)  has  hiked  the  ceiling  price  of  12  essential  first  line treatment drugs;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said move is crucial in the public health programme in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether the Government has taken any serious steps in this regard, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

- (a): Yes,  Sir.  National  Pharmaceutical  Pricing  Authority  (NPPA)  has  received applications for upward price revision under para 19 of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013) citing various reasons like increase in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) cost, increase in cost of production, exchange rates etc. resulting in unviability in sustainable production and marketing of the  drugs.  Based  on  the  recommendation  of  Standing  Committee  on  Affordable Medicines and Health Products (SCAMHP), ceiling price of shortlisted 21 scheduled formulations  of  12  medicines  were  revised  by  allowing  one  time  price  increase  of upto 50% from the present ceiling price in public interest as an exceptional measure by invoking para 19 of DPCO, 2013.
- (b): The detail of price revision is as below:

| Sl. No .   | Name of the Scheduled Formulation   | Dosage form & Strength            | Unit      | Revised Ceiling Price (Rs.)   |
|------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------|-------------------------------|
| (1)        | (2)                                 | (3)                               | (4)       | (5)                           |
| 1.         | BCG vaccine                         |                                   | Each Dose | 8.75                          |
| 2.         | Benzathine benzylpenicillin         | Powder for Injection 12 lac units | Each Pack | 17.84                         |
| 3.         | Benzathine benzylpenicillin         | Powder for Injection 6 lac units  | Each Pack | 11.81                         |
| 4.         | Benzyl penicillin                   | Powder for Injection 10 Lac Units | Each Pack | 7.64                          |

|   5. | Chloroquine                                             | Tablet 150mg                      | 1 Tablet   |   1.16 |
|------|---------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------|--------|
|    6 | Dapsone                                                 | Tablet 100 mg                     | 1 Tablet   |   0.35 |
|    7 | Furosemide                                              | Tablet 40 mg                      | 1 Tablet   |   0.74 |
|    8 | Furosemide                                              | Injection 10mg/ml                 | 1 ml       |   2.43 |
|    9 | Metronidazole                                           | Oral Liquid 200 mg/5ml            | 1 ml       |   0.44 |
|   10 | Metronidazole                                           | Tablet 200 mg                     | 1 Tablet   |   0.68 |
|   11 | Metronidazole                                           | Tablet 400 mg                     | 1 Tablet   |   1.25 |
|   12 | Metronidazole                                           | Injection 500mg/100ml             | 1 ml       |   0.2  |
|   13 | Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)                               | Tablet 500 mg                     | 1 Tablet   |   1.34 |
|   14 | Co-trimoxazole (Sulphamethoxazole (A)+Trimethoprim (B)] | Tablet 400 mg(A)+80 mg(B)         | 1 Tablet   |   0.77 |
|   15 | Co-trimoxazole (Sulphamethoxazole (A)+Trimethoprim (B)] | Tablet 800 mg(A)+160 mg(B)        | 1 Tablet   |   1.98 |
|   16 | Co-trimoxazole (Sulphamethoxazole (A)+Trimethoprim (B)] | Oral Liquid 200mg(A)+40mg(B)/5 ml | 1 ml       |   0.32 |
|   17 | Pheniramine                                             | Injection 22.75 mg/ml(10ml pack)  | 1 ml       |   1.67 |
|   18 | Pheniramine                                             | Injection 22.75 mg/ml (2ml pack)  | 1 ml       |   2.24 |
|   19 | Prednisolone                                            | Drops 1%                          | 1 ml       |   4.92 |
|   20 | Clofazimine                                             | Capsule 50 mg                     | 1 Capsule  |   2.13 |
|   21 | Clofazimine                                             | Capsule 100 mg                    | 1 Capsule  |   3.63 |

(c) & (d): Yes,  Sir.  It  was  noted  that  the  twenty  one  scheduled  formulations considered for upward price revision under para 19 of DPCO, 2013 are low priced drugs and have been under repeated price control. Most of these drugs are used as first  line  of  treatment  and  are  crucial  to  the  public  health  program  of  the  country. Many  companies  have  applied  for  discontinuation  of  the  product  on  account  of unviability.

(e): In view of reply at (c) & (d) above, the occasion does not arise.

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