After the announcement of National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy 2012, Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013) was notified on 15.05.2013. As per the provisions of DPCO, 2013 all the existing manufacturers of scheduled formulations, selling the branded or generic or both the versions of scheduled formulations at a price higher than the ceiling price (plus local taxes as applicable) so fixed and notified by the Government under DPCO, 2013, shall revise the prices of all such formulations downward not exceeding the ceiling price (plus local taxes as applicable). All the existing manufacturers of scheduled formulations, selling the branded or generic or both the versions of scheduled formulations at a price lower than the ceiling price (plus local taxes as applicable) so fixed and notified by the Government shall maintain their existing maximum retail price. Further, as per the provisions of DPCO, 2013 the manufacturers shall have to implement the notified ceiling price within a period of 45 (forty five) days from the date of notification. NPPA has notified the ceiling prices for 300 essential medicines. In all these cases, prices have reduced significantly as compared to highest price of that particular medicine as per data furnished by IMS-Health.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
