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The Group of Ministers (GoM) on National Pharmaceutical Policy would meet again next week after the Parliament session is over on May 22.
The GoM met for the second time this week. “We will sit sometime after the (Parliament) Session. I have to ask views of others because a few members were not there today,” the Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, who is heading the ministerial panel told reporters.
The panel heard views from two non-government organisations (NGOs) – All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) and Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA). It also heard views from Member of Parliament Ms Jyoti Mirdha for the Policy.
The NGOs and Associations have put their views saying most medicines are outside price control and the prices of top selling brands of the same medicine are often the most expensive.
“The redrafted policy should control prices of all essential medicines but should do so by fixing prices that are calculated on the basis of actual manufacturing costs and not on the prices that obtain in the pharma market today,” Mr Amit Sengupta, Joint Convenor, JSA, said.
Mr Sengupta said JSA has also demanded that the practice of fixing bulk prices not be discontinued.
In its first meeting, the ministerial panel that is to consider cost plus profit pricing mechanism for 348 drugs that are listed as essential medicines by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, heard the retail participants in the sector including Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) and All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists.
Once all the consents come, the panel will make final recommendations to the Cabinet. The proposal may also have to get a final nod from the Supreme Court that had initially directed the Government to formulate a policy to make essential medicines available and affordable to consumers.
The ministerial panel that was constituted in September 2009, include the Health and Family Welfare, Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad; the Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Anand Sharma; and the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
> ronendrasingh.s@thehindu.co.in
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