The drug price regulator, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), has required stricter control over the implementation of Trade Margin Rationalization (TMR) for 137 anti-cancer drugs that are not included in the regulated list. These changes were officially notified on October 17, and the new prices came into effect on November 9.
In an official memorandum released this week, the regulator mandated that all manufacturers, retailers, dealers, warehouses, hospitals, and medical institutions comply with the updated prices and display current price lists at their premises and on their websites.
The updated price lists, compiled based on data received from companies up to November 11, are available on the NPPA website, as well as through the 'Pharma Sahi Daam' application and portal.
State drug controllers have been instructed to strictly monitor compliance from manufacturers, dealers, hospitals, and medical institutions to ensure that the benefits from revising the Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) reach the patients. NPPA warned that any violation may lead to proceedings for price overcharging in accordance with the provisions of DPCO, 2013.
These steps were taken shortly after NPPA set a 30% trade margin on 137 unregulated anti-cancer drugs, covering 1391 brands and dosage forms. The list includes both patented and non-patented drugs, based on the recommendation of the expert committee under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Citizens can report cases of overpricing, shortages, or unavailability of medicines through the 'Pharma Sahi Daam' application/portal, the NPPA hotline, or by email. Furthermore, state controllers must submit reports on the measures taken to NPPA by November 16.
