Supply of essential medicines at affordable prices in India

Pursuant to the announcement of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2012 the Government notified Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013) on 15th May, 2013. All the medicines specified in the National list of Essential Medicines 2011 (NLEM) have been included in the First Schedule of DPCO, 2013. Out of total 680 NLEM medicines (628 net medicines) under scheduled category of DPCO, 2013, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the ceiling prices in respect of 530 medicines (including 47 for cancer and 53 for cardiovascular diseases)

Subsequently, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has announced National list of Essential Medicines, 2015 (NLEM, 2015). The Government is in the process of amending the first Schedule of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 so that NPPA can fix prices of medicines appearing in NLEM, 2015. This would result in reduction in prices of Essential Medicines appearing in NLEM, 2015, including those used for cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today.