Pricing norms outdated, says NPPA chief

Bhupendra Singh also says DPCO also needs to be suitably tp help drug price controller fix the price of coronary stents

The price regulator in the pharmaceutical sector is of the opinion that the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) is outdated and has to be amended.  Such a step will help facilitate the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) look into subjects like biosimilars and medical devices, the regulator says.

Currently, NPPA doesn't have market data for 350 medicines that come under price control.

NPPA Chairman Bhupendra Singh said DPCO also has to be amended in a way that it would help the drug price controller determine the price of coronary stents. "NPPA doesn't have a benchmark to work out the pricing mechanism for agents as done for other drugs.''

At a recent meeting with NPPA and the Department of Pharmaceuticals, foreign companies had pressed for higher prices for their "next generation" stents. The government is looking at amending the draft regulation for stents.