Centre launches Pharma Price Data Bank

The chemicals & fertilizers ministry has launched Pharma Price Data Bank on June 25, 2015 in New Delhi under the integrated pharmaceutical database management system, managed and operated by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). Ananth Kumar, minister of chemicals & fertilizers, said, “This is the first data bank of pharma industry that will help the manufacturers, regulator as well as the common masses. Now, manufacturers can fill their mandatory forms online, the government and NPPA can have comprehensive data, and consumers can benefit by having full information about the medicines.”
 
Ananth Kumar called for ushering in next generation of reforms in the pharmaceutical industry so that the consumers are empowered to make right choice of medicines, based on complete information about the products, their composition and their rates. The availability of real time data is expected to help in better policy interventions.
 
Stating that the databank will help in simplification of procedures, Dr V K Subburaj, Secretary (department of pharmaceuticals) expressed hope that online system will become popular and companies will provide complete and timely information.
 
Pharma Price Data Bank is an integrated pharmaceutical database management system that will be used by pharma companies to make online submission of mandatory information/data as prescribed under the Drugs Price Control Order, 2013. Facility for submitting application for price fixation of new drug is also available. NPPA is already operating another portal ‘Pharma Jan Samadhan’ that registers complaints about shortage or overcharging for medicines.
 
According to NPPA chairman, I Srinivas, about 10,000 manufacturers making over one lakh formulations are there in the country, and this online compilation will help in better monitoring and oversight of the industry.