Pharma department considers setting up price monitoring cells for drugs

The Department of Pharmaceuticals is considering setting up price monitoring cells in all States to provide technical assistance to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and drug controllers.

"A scheme of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority for setting up price monitoring cell in states" is under initial scrutiny of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The price monitoring cells will render technical assistance to State Drug Controllers and NPPA in monitoring the notified price of medicines, price movement of scheduled/non-scheduled formulations, collection/monitoring availability of drugs as required under provisions of DPCO, the minister said in a written reply.

On whether the government is aware that the country is among the ones with the highest price of drugs in the world, Ahir said, "Price fixed under the provisions of DPCO, 2013 are reasonable and based on market price data of the drugs sold in the country. There is no available comparison of prices with other countries."