Lok Sabha Question No. 2314 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-09
Subject: Life Saving Drugs
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2314 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 th  March, 2021

## Life Saving Drugs

## 2314. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

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

(a) the number of life-saving drugs enlisted as essential along with the criteria therefor and the number of such drugs that under price control;

(b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  revise  the  National  List  of  Essential  Medicines (NLEM) 2015 and bring in some life-saving medical devices under the said list in order to check their prices;

(c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  medicines/devices  identified  to  be included/excluded in/from NLEM;

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  for  inclusion  of  certain  cancer medicines in the NLEM, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon;

(e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  link  availability  of  essential  medicines  with Ayushman Bharat Yojana; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the financial and operational modalities worked out for the same?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  publishes  the  National  List  of  Essential Medicines (NLEM), which are incorporated in the Schedule -I of the Drugs (Price Control) Order.  There  is  no  separate  categorization  in  NLEM  about  life-saving  drugs.  National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals fixes the ceiling price of scheduled formulations as per the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013). The Schedule I of DPCO, 2013 was last amended by adopting NLEM, 2015 consisting of 377 medicines. NPPA has fixed the ceiling prices of 881 scheduled formulations  of  medicines  under  NLEM,  2015.  The  details  of  price  fixed  are  available  on NPPA's website,  www.nppaindia.nic.in.

(b) to (d): The Standing National Committee on Medicines (SNCM) has been constituted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on 03.07.2018 to review and revise the National

List  of  Essential  Medicines  (NLEM),  2015  by  way  of  additions  and  deletions  in  existing NLEM. The NLEM revision process consists of consultative mechanism of subject experts from throughout the country and other important stakeholders. Amongst others, the Committee will  suggest  inclusion  of  Medical  Devices,  medical  disposables,  medical  consumables  and other  products  used  for  health  and  hygiene  of  general  public  in  NLEM.  The  Committee  is deliberating the matter to submit its report.

(e) & (f): The health benefits packages defined under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) are comprehensive, covering treatment for 25 specialties that include super specialty care like oncology, neurosurgery and cardio-thoracic surgery etc. The health benefits package rate (in case of medical surgical) or defined day-care benefits includes the costs of medicines and drugs from 3 days prior to hospitalization and 15 days post discharge from the hospital. The treatment under AB PM-JAY is provided as per the Standard Treatment Guidelines (if available) and professional judgement of the healthcare provider.

However, there is no proposal with the National Health Authority regarding linking of essential medicines with AB PM-JAY.

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