New Delhi: The Ministry of Pharmacy has decided to expand the committee to monitor efforts to reform prices of drugs and medical devices by bringing in more industry participants, according to an order issued by it.
According to the order seen by Mintit has invited at least seven industry associations to the committee tasked with striking a balance between pricing and availability of essential medicines, while providing incentives to the industry to promote growth and exports.
Addressing concerns
The move comes after many associations questioned why only one pharmaceutical body was included in the core committee.
“Following the decision of this Ministry on the topic 'Constitution of a Committee Established for Reforms in the Pricing Framework for Drugs and Medical Devices Relating to' and based on the requests received by the Ministry from various industry associations to appoint their representatives as special invitees in the said committee, it has been decided to expand the list of special invitees and additionally include the representatives of the following pharmaceutical and MediTech associations as special invitees in the said committee,” the April 22 decision said.
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The new candidates are: Director General of the Organization of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of India (OPPI), Managing Director of the US-INDIA Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), Chairman of the Medical Technology Association of India (MTal), Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Director, US India Business Council (USIBC), Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Forum Coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMED), Executive Director, Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE), representing AdvaMed, representing ADMI (Association of Diagnostic Manufacturers of India), and representing BDMAI (Bulk Drugs Manufacturers Association of India), representing ASSOCHAM.
Striking balance
The main task of the committee will be to strike a balance between pricing and availability of essential medicines. Establishment of a committee for reforms in the pricing framework for medicines and medical devices.
In addition, the committee will engage in several other tasks, including implementing reforms within the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), establishing a framework for price moderation of medical devices, providing incentives to reduce imports, and developing of a price moderation framework for emerging and precision therapies. to ensure timely access for patients in need.
The committee will also oversee the drafting of a new (control) decision on medicines and medical devices, taking into account these objectives, which would benefit the industry. The existing panel consists of three key members: the Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the Chairman of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and the Senior Economic Adviser of the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
In addition, it will have two representatives from the pharmaceutical industry: the Secretary of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance and the Chief Executive of the Indian Drugs Manufacturers' Association. Currently, the NPPA follows the regulations set out in the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO-2013) to fix the prices of drugs and medical equipment categorized as drugs.
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The NPPA had replaced the 'cost-based' pricing of the 1994 drug policy with 'market-based' pricing in 2012, leading to the implementation of the DPCO-13. Medical device associations advocate clear policies for the production and sale of products. The NPPA sets the ceiling price for all scheduled formulations included in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
“We express our gratitude to the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) for inviting us to join the council. As an organization committed to promoting innovation and accessibility in healthcare, OPPI strongly believes that achieving a balanced approach to price review within the pharmaceutical and medical device sector requires the participation of a wide range of stakeholders in the decision-making process. As advocates of patient-centric solutions, we remain steadfast in our commitment to highlighting the importance of striking a balance between affordability and innovation, ensuring patients have access to life-saving treatments while driving continued research and development,” said Anil Matai , Director General, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Organization of India (OPPI).
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Published: Apr 24, 2024 5:58 PM IST