Drug body to take up price norms

The first meeting of the pharmaceutical advisory forum, to be held tomorrow, will look into a slew of issues ranging from price negotiations of patented drugs, fixing a ceiling on trade margins to strengthening of pharma PSUs.

Crucial headway is expected to come out of these discussions on the second part of the pharmaceutical policy, which will outline the price control regime.

The meeting will be chaired by Union Minister for Chemicals and Petrochemicals Ram Vilas Paswan and attended by drug controller general of india, state drug controllers, chairman of national pharmaceutical pricing authority and representatives from the health ministry. Industry associations would also be a part of the meeting, according to a senior chemicals and petrochemicals ministry official.

Besides the introduction of the health insurance scheme, the forum will also look into allocation of funds for national, state and district illness assistance funds through four public sector insurance companies.

In the proposed health insurance scheme involving a total outlay of Rs 3,000 crore, as much as Rs 15,000 per annum will be set aside for hospitalisation charges and Rs 5,000 as non-hospitalisation expenses.

Establishment of drug banks at the district level to ensure availability of medicines for the poor is also on the agenda for discussion. Steps to strengthen NPPA through better computerisation and linkage with state drug controllers will also be discussed.

Giving fiscal incentives for research and development to SMEs will also be discussed for good manufacturing practices' compliance, as per Schedule M, the forum will also look into creating greater consumer awareness through a dedicated website, helpline, and printing of medicine labels in Hindi.