TEC signs MoU with BECIL to strengthen Telecom and Broadcasting Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Borrowers who fail to timely invoke MSME framework are precluded from seeking its protection at belated stage after SARFAESI proceedings have commenced: HC (See 'Legal Desk') NLDSL and Punjab sign MoU to strengthen Digital Logistics Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - OP entered into anti-competitive agreements & abused its dominant position by imposing unfair & restrictive conditions on participants in its beauty pageant, in contravention of Sections 3 & 4 - D-G to probe matter: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Kamarajar Port becomes India's Second Major Port with 18-Metre Draft Capability (See 'Corp Brief') Large-Scale Infrastructure Expansion opens up Opportunities for Budding Engineers (See 'Corp Brief') CCI okays merger of 51 Malabar Group's companies into Malabar Gold and Diamonds Ltd (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Delayed creation of security cannot be treated as transaction in normal course of business: NCLAT (See 'Legal Desk') CCI approves acquisition of equity in Sorting Hat Technologies and merger into upGrad Education (See 'Corp Brief') Atal Innovation Mission Strengthens Eastern India Innovation Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') Giriraj Singh to inaugurate 'Indie Haat 2026' (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Rent Tribunal lacks jurisdiction in cases involving entities undergoing CIRP, per Sections 60(5)(c) & 238 of IBC, which confer exclusive jurisdiction upon the Adjudicating Authority in CIRP matters: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') Labour Ministry translates objectives of Labour Codes to provide timely relief to workers (See 'Corp Brief') Trade Marks - Mark KREOFLAT is distinctively similar to existing mark of PANKREOFLAT where former copies essential & distinctive features of latter, thereby making the former visually, phonetically & deceptively similar: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CAQM reports 62 air pollution violations across NCR in 17 days; proposes closure of four units (See 'Corp Brief') Utsav & Chintan Shivir 2026 to focus on institutional reforms for a technology-driven, and citizen-centric legal ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') Sukesh Chandrashekhar con saga - co-accused gets bail - stringent conditions of Section 45 of PMLA can be relaxed for women, more so considering extraordinary circumstances: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Govt raises onion procurement price by 13% to Rs.2,125 per quintal (See 'Corp Brief') India's last 12 years have been a progression from shortages to building Viksit Bharat: RM (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Writ jurisdiction under Article 226 should ordinarily not be exercised where efficacious alternative remedy exists, particularly in matters arising under the SARFAESI Act: HC (See 'Legal Desk') India's youth will power AI, robotics with Made in India chips: PM (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - Allegations relating to use of private vehicles without commercial permits, non-compliance with Motor Vehicles Act, opaque GST & STA tax practices, & related issues fall outside scope of Competition Act: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Tech Innovation and disruption in Construction Industry (See 'CORP EINSICHT')

NPPA monitors prices of scheduled & non-scheduled medicines

Published: Jul 30, 2024

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, JULY 30, 2024: AS per the provisions of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013), formulations listed in Schedule-I of the DPCO are defined as scheduled formulation under section 2(1)(zb) of DPCO, 2013. Formulations not included in Schedule-I are defined under Para 2(1)(v) of DPCO, 2013 as non-scheduled formulation. Thus, both schedule and non-schedule drugs are covered under DPCO, 2013. 

As per the extant provisions of DPCO, 2013, the ceiling prices of scheduled medicines are revised annually on the basis of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) (all commodities) for preceding calendar year by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), on or before 1st April of every year and is notified by the Government on the 1st day of April every year. The details of price fixed by NPPA are available at NPPA's website i.e. nppaindia.nic.in.  In case of non-scheduled formulation (branded or generic), as per para 20 of DPCO, 2013, no manufacturers can increase Maximum Retail Price (MRP) by more than 10% of MRP during preceding 12 months.  The maximum permissible increase in prices, as per the provisions of DPCO, 2013 for scheduled and non-scheduled drugs may or may not be availed by their respective manufacturers based on commercial considerations and market dynamics.

Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945 and Rules thereunder, manufacturers of drugs are required to comply with conditions of manufacturing licence and the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).  As per the Drugs Rules, 1945, the manufacturing, testing, labeling, packaging, storage and distribution are required to be carried out in compliance with the conditions of license including the Good manufacturing practices (GMP) prescribed under the Schedule M of the Drugs Rules, 1945. In case of violation, the Licensing Authority is empowered to take action as per the said Act and Rules.

NPPA monitors the prices of scheduled as well as non-scheduled medicines under DPCO, 2013.  Action is taken against companies, found selling formulations at prices higher than the permissible price, and the overcharged amount is recovered from the company as per the relevant provisions of the DPCO, 2013. During the financial year 2023-24, Rs. 72.73 crore was recovered from the defaulting companies.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question today.

TIOL CORP SEARCH

TIOL GROUP WEBSITES