MTaI seeks reconstitution of NLEM panel for fair review

Medical device-makers body MTaI today called for reconstitution of the committee for revision of list of essential medicines and include representatives of other relevant sections of the healthcare ecosystem.
Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) said the current National List of Essential Medicine (NLEM) Committee is invested in the decision it took last year, and a review would be fair if it is done by a broader panel.
The NLEM committee is responsible for revision of list of medicines to be under price control.
In a meeting with National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), MTaI also suggested the drug price regulator to consider creating sub-categories for stents "to ensure that significant technological innovation stays commercially rewardable".

"Continuing in the spirit of inclusiveness, we request the ministry of health & family welfare to reconstitute the NLEM committee to enable inclusion of representatives from other relevant sections of the healthcare ecosystem," (MTaI) Chairman & Director General Pavan Choudary said in a statement.
He further said a broader constitution will give a real chance to the committee to review its previous decision on price capping.

"The committee, in its current form, is invested in the decision it took last year and the review would be fair if it is done by a broader panel," Choudary added.
On the meeting with NPPA, Choudary said, "NPPA should consider creating sub-categories for stents to ensure that significant technological innovation stays commercially rewardable."

In February last year, NPPA had notified ceiling price of coronary stents at Rs 7,260 for bare metal stent and Rs 29,600 for drug-eluting ones. The corresponding average MRPs before the notification stood at Rs 45,100 and Rs 1.21 lakh, respectively.
Following this, stent makers have been asking the government to apply differential pricing for drug-eluting stents by classifying them on the basis of technology used.