Ceiling of drug prices helped save INR 11,463 crore to public

The government today said fixation of ceiling prices of medicines has resulted in a saving of INR 11,463 crore to the public after the implementation of the Drugs Prices Control Order 2013.

The information was given in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on the benefits accrued to citizens due to reduction in the prices of essential medicines in recent past. "…fixation of ceiling prices/MRP of medicines has resulted in a total saving of INR 11,463 crore to the public after implementation of DPCO, 2013," said Mansukh L Mandaviya, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers. This includes the saving of INR 4,547 crore on account of fixation of ceiling price of coronary stents (including re-fixation) and INR 1,500 crore on account of price fixation of knee implants, he added.

Giving details, Mandaviya said since May 2014 to February 2016, consumers saved INR 2,422 crore under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2011. During the period from March 2016 to June 2018, public saved INR 2,644 crore under NLEM (2015), he added. A total saving of INR 4,547 crore reported due to fixation of ceiling prices of coronary stents in Feb 2017, including re-fixation in Feb 2018. People saved INR 1,500 crore on account of fixation of the prices of knee implants in Aug 2017, the minister said. Consumers saved INR 350 crore on account of fixation of prices of cardiac and anti-diabetic drugs in July 2014, under provisions of Para 19 of the DPCO 2013, Mandaviya said.

Till June 2018, the government has fixed the ceiling prices of 851 medicines, including 4 medical devices under revised schedule – I based on the National List of Essential Medicines, 2015 (NLEM, 2015), he added.

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