With the aim of reforming the pricing framework for drugs and medical devices, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (Pricing Division) has constituted a committee, which is expected to submit its report within the next three months.
The committee is mandated to give inputs regarding institutional reforms within the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) as well as balancing price and availability of essential medicines, while providing incentives to the industry to sustain growth and exports.
In its communication on March 12, the department had specified that the committee will consist of three core members – Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals; Chairman, NPPA; and the Senior Economic Adviser, Department of Pharmaceuticals. Besides these members, the committee will have two special invitees from the industry - secretary-general, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), and chief executive officer, Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association (IDMA).
