Lok Sabha Question No. 116 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Reduction of Drug Prices
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 116 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  February, 2021

## Reduction of Drug Prices

## 116. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

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

- (a) whether the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has formulated any plan for reducing the prices of drugs to fight against epidemics like Covid19;
- (b) if so, the details of drugs whose price has been reduced during the last one year:
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the fact that during this pandemic period, the private hospitals  have  been  prescribing  expensive  medicines  with  the  sole  view  of  making  profits through the channeling of commission payouts by the pharmaceuticals and if so the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has received any such complaints from the States and if so the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals  fixes  the  ceiling  prices  of  scheduled  medicines  which  are  specified  in  the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and are included in Schedule-I of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013). The ceiling price fixed by the NPPA is applicable on all  the  branded  and  generic  versions  of  such  formulations  alike.  The  Indian  Council  of Medical Research (ICMR) under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued revised Clinical treatment protocol for COVID-19 on 13.06.2020 and included Hydroxychloroquine, Paracetamol,  Methylprednisolone,  Enoxaparin,  Dexamethasone  medicines  under  treatment protocol which are part of Schedule-I of the DPCO, 2013. The ceiling price of these medicines have been fixed/revised by NPPA vide S.O. No. 1213(E) dated 25.03.2020. The details of price notifications are available on the website of the NPPA i.e. www.nppaindia@nic.in.

Further, NPPA invoking the extra ordinary powers in public interest, fixed the price of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and the Oxygen Inhalation (Medicinal gas) to ease the situation of  Medical  Oxygen  availability  throughout  the  country,  especially  in  distant  and  far-flung areas.  In addition, NPPA revisited the ceiling price of Heparin injection so as to ensure its continued availability during the pandemic.

The  Government  has  notified  Masks  (2ply,  3ply  &  N95)  and  Hand  Sanitizers  as 'Essential Commodities' under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 vide Notification dated 13.03.2020. Further, the Government vide Notification dated 21.03.2020 and 24.03.2020 had fixed  ceiling  prices  for  Masks  (2ply  &  3ply)  and  Hand  Sanitizers.  Further,  based  on  the

Advisory issued by the NPPA, the Retail Prices of N95 Masks were reduced significantly up to 67% by the manufacturers/importers of the N95 Masks.

(d) & (e): No  such  complaints  have  been  received  from  State  /  UT  Governments. However, necessary action on complaints received from individuals has been taken by NPPA. *****