The Hindu Business Line : Parliamentary panel slams delay in pharma policy

New Delhi, April 17 The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemical and Fertiliser has slammed the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals over the delay in finalising National Pharmaceutical Policy (NPP) 2006.

The policy, aimed at making drugs cheaper, has been delayed due to strong opposition from the industry. While the policy will bring more number of drugs under price control, the industry wants the Government to encourage free market pricing. The policy was referred to a Group of Ministers which is yet to take a decision.

However, the Parliamentary Committee in its report said that it fails to understand that in spite of their strong recommendation regarding finalisation of National Pharmaceutical Policy 2006 made in their 20th report (2006-07), which is an action taken report of 7th Report of the Committee in 2005-06, the department has remained static on such a crucial issue.

The draft pharma policy was discussed by the Cabinet in its meeting held on January 11, 2007, and then referred the policy to a Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted under the Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar. The GoM has till now held three meetings with the last one being held on January 30, 2008.

In the last meeting, Mr Pawar had said GoM would again meet to take a final view on various issues proposed in the draft NPP and then make the recommendations.

Earlier, the Minister of Chemical and Fertilisers, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, said that he had requested the Chairman to convene the next meeting of the GoM at an earliest date. Mr Paswan has been repeatedly urging the industry to agree to the policy and bring down price of medicines.

The Committee further noted that the provision of Rs 10 crore made in the plan budget for the year 2007-08 for National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority to take up new initiatives such as building robust and responsive statistical system, scheme for interaction with States and consumer awareness, has not been utilised due to the non-finalisation of the policy.

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