GoM finalizes pricing proposal, 348 essential medicines likely to get cheaper

28 Sep 2012 Evaluate

After several rounds of discussions, the Group of Ministers (GoM) on pharma chaired by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, has finalized drug pricing formula, it has proposed for fixing maximum retail price (MRP) of 348 essential medicines at the average price of all brands in a segment that has more than one per cent market share by sales. The draft of pricing policy is likely to reach Union Cabinet by next week for seeking approval. All the 348 drugs with 614 dosages of each and other combinations of medicines as mentioned in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) are included in the draft for price control.

By passing this proposal, price of several costly brands will come down. Besides it will allow low-cost medicine manufacturers to increase their price. The draft also mandates doctors to recommend generic medicines and recommends opening up of more generic drugs stores across the country. The ministry panel however, denied to extend exemptions to medicines priced under or at Rs 3 a tablet, which was been put forth by the draft, National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy of November 2011.

However, Pharmaceutical companies are concerned that their margins will trim down, as the span of price control will now cover around 30 per cent of the Indian pharmaceutical market. The top 100 drug companies, both domestic and multinational, will be affected and there will be a 15-17 per cent revenue loss to the industry, at about Rs 1,500 crore.

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