Government forms panel to enhance affordability, availability of drugs

The Union government has formed a new committee in its effort to make drugs more affordable in the country.

The information was shared by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Mansukh L Mandaviya in a written reply to the Parliament’s lower house, Lok Sabha. "Government has constituted a committee of joint secretaries for ensuring enhanced affordability, availability and accessibility of drugs for the citizens," the Minister said.

Key Functions of the Committee

• The Committee would be responsible for suggesting ways to make pricing policy in favour of the poor patients.

• It would also review the scope of Drugs (Price Control) Order 2013 (DPCO 2013) and suggest ways for strengthening the regulatory provisions of the order.

• It would also be responsible for streamlining the existing mechanisms for the collection of market-based data on prices of medicines and suggesting ways for strengthening the existing pharmaceutical database management system.

• Besides this, the panel would look at procedural improvements and process of re-engineering in NPPA to ensure better and quicker implementation of the government policy and bring greater transparency, in order to reduce litigations and review petitions.

• It would also be required to suggest ways to make DPCO 2013 more comprehensive in light of past experience of implementing DPCO.

According to Mandaviya, no time limit has been set for the implementation of the proposal, as it would require various approvals and legal advice.