The shortage of key leprosy drug clofazimine in the country is not of recent origin, but a long-standing problem not properly addressed by the Union government, official documents show.
Minutes of a meeting of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Drug Pricing Control Order (DPCO), 2013 dated October 30, 2019 say Abbott Healthcare Private Limited has been directed not to discontinue the production of the drug as it could lead to shortages. DPCO is an order under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 that enables the Union government to control and fix the prices of essential medicines and their formulations.
The meeting discussed the Form-IV submitted by the company for the discontinuation of scheduled drug formulations Hansepran 50 mg (Clofazimine Capsule IP 50mg) and Hansepran 100 mg (Clofazimine Capsule IP 100mg) under para 21(2) of DPCO.
