Lok Sabha Question No. 4618 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Exorbitant Price of Life Saving Drugs
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Narayan Tatu Rane

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †4618 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  MARCH 2026

## Exorbitant Price of Life Saving Drugs

## †4618. Shri Narayan Tatu Rane:

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

- (a) whether life saving and some other drugs are being sold at exorbitant prices in the country due to their shortage;
- (b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the percentage increase in the price of each medicine;
- (c)  the  steps  taken  to  ensure  that  the  price  of  the  said  drugs  are  kept  within  the  range  of affordability;
- (d) whether any criteria have been fixed to ensure minimum buffer stock of the said drugs in the country;
- (e) if so, the details thereof alongwith the estimated stock of the said drugs;
- (f) whether the Government has constituted/proposes to constitute any high-level committee to review the drug price control system; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  CHEMICALS  AND FERTILIZERS

(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (e): Presently, prices of drugs are regulated as per the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order 2013 (DPCO, 2013) based on the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy, 2012.  As per extant provisions of DPCO, 2013, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) fixes the ceiling prices of the drugs included in the Schedule-I of DPCO, 2013 which is based on the National List of Essential Medicines and the retail price of new drugs as defined in  para  2(1)(u)  of  DPCO,  2013.  Further,  in  the  case  of  non-scheduled  formulations, manufacturers are required to not increase the maximum retail price (MRP) of such formulation by more than 10% of the MRP of that formulation during preceding 12 months. In addition, NPPA also fixes the prices of drugs under Para 19 of the DPCO, 2013 in case of extra-ordinary circumstances  and  in  public  interest.  Instances  of  overcharging  are  dealt  with  as  per  the provisions of DPCO, 2013. Details of prices fixed or revised by NPPA are available on NPPA's website (www.nppa.gov.in).

No criteria have been fixed to ensure minimum buffer stock for the said drugs. NPPA monitors availability of drugs in the country and takes remedial measures whenever an issue of non-availability of any medicine is brought to its notice through various sources including State  Drugs  Controllers  (SDCs),  Pharma  Jan  Samadhan  Portal,  NPPA  helpline  and  public grievance  portals  and  individuals.  In  addition,  Government  has  taken  other  measures  to improve the access of essential medicines at affordable rates to the common man which include the following:

- (i) The Government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana scheme  under  which  quality  generic  medicines  is  provided  through  more  than 17,000 Janaushadhi Kendras at rates that are typically 50% to 80% cheaper than branded medicines.
- (ii) Under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, health assurance/insurance cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year is provided for secondary or tertiary care hospitalisation, including for medicines.
- (iii) Under the Free Drugs Service Initiative of the National Health Mission, essential medicines list recommended under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) are made available free of any charge at public health facilities ranging from Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to district hospitals across the country.
- (iv) Under  the  Amrit  (Affordable  Medicines  and  Reliable  Implants  for  Treatment) initiative of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, affordable medicines are  provided  for  the  treatment  of  cancer,  cardiovascular  and  other  diseases, implants, surgical disposables and other consumables etc., at an average discount of up to 50% on market rates through AMRIT Pharmacy stores set up in number of hospitals and healthcare institutions.
- (v) Financial assistance is provided to poor patients belonging to families living below the poverty line, who suffer from major life-threatening diseases including cancer, under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi and the Health Minister's Discretionary Grant.

(f) to (g): Review of DPCO, 2013 is a continuous process which is done periodically by the  Department  or  as  and  when  required  to  ensure  that  the  provisions  of  DPCO,  2013  are enforced effectively so that the essential drugs are made accessible and available to the public at affordable price.

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