At present, NPPA is unable to regulate 350 drugs, which are under the National Essential Drug List (NLEM), in the absence of market data. Therefore, the authority must be empowered by amending the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) for access to the data.
The government will soon notify the standards to empower the national drug pricing authority (NPPA) to regulate about 350 drugs and ensure they are sold at affordable rates.
"All that is necessary to strengthen the NPPA will be done, it will be an independent authority with all the powers," said Ananth Kumar, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers of the Union, In the margins of an international event "India Pharma 2017"."It will be done soon," he said.
Last year in August the minister said that the DPCO would be changed in 15 days to allow the NPPA to regulate approximately 350 drugs. But the amendments have not yet been made
Over the last four to six months, about 1,450 drugs have been brought under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, (DPCO) 2013, which saved some 5,000 crore to consumers.
“Prior to 2014, prices of 30 to 40 percent of drugs were controlled. For the first time, 1,450 drugs are being brought under DPCO with great success in the last 4-6 months, "he said.
Kumar said that much progress has been made to ensure medicines are available at affordable rates to people.
Kumar said the government is promoting to a large extent the national manufacture of bulk pharmaceutical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and medical devices. He said that five med-tech zones zones and six drug parks are being established, while 100% of FDI has been authorized, including in the case of brown-field projects. Efforts are being made to reduce the country's dependence on the import of medical devices, he said
The Indian pharma industry has potential to reach USD 55 billion in the next couple of years from the current USD 33 billion, he added.
