NPPA: New Strategy to Curb Drug Price Hikes

The DPCO 2013 empowers the NPPA to regulate the prices of essential medicines in India.

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Last Updated on December 19, 2024 by The Health Master

NPPA

India’s pharmaceutical sector is set to face increased regulatory scrutiny as the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) ramps up its efforts to ensure fair pricing of essential medicines.

The recent move to involve the Indian Patent Office in evaluating exemption requests under the Drugs Prices Control Order (DPCO) 2013 signals a stricter approach to price control exemptions.

The DPCO 2013 and Price Exemptions

The DPCO 2013 empowers the NPPA to regulate the prices of essential medicines in India.

However, it also provides provisions for exemptions under certain conditions, such as the development of new drugs through unique and indigenous processes.

The Recent Controversy

Recently, pharmaceutical companies like Intas Pharmaceuticals and Biological E have sought exemptions from price control for their products, including Clozapine extended-release capsules and pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine, respectively.

These companies argue that their products meet the criteria for exemption under the DPCO 2013.

NPPA’s Increased Scrutiny

To ensure transparency and fairness in the exemption process, the NPPA has decided to involve the Indian Patent Office.

This move is aimed at:

  • Verifying Patent Claims: The patent office will scrutinize the patent claims of the drug companies to ensure that they meet the required standards of novelty and inventiveness.
  • Assessing Indigenous Innovation: The office will also evaluate the extent of indigenous research and development involved in the development of the drug.

In conclusion, the increased scrutiny of drug price exemptions is a significant development that could have far-reaching implications for the Indian pharmaceutical industry.

By involving the Indian Patent Office, the NPPA aims to strike a balance between promoting innovation and ensuring affordable access to essential medicines.

  1. What is the DPCO 2013?

    The DPCO 2013 is a government order that empowers the NPPA to regulate the prices of essential medicines in India.

  2. What are the criteria for price exemption under the DPCO 2013?

    To be eligible for exemption, a new drug must be developed through a unique and indigenous process, patented under the Indian Patents Act, and not produced elsewhere.

  3. Why is the NPPA involving the Indian Patent Office?

    The NPPA is involving the patent office to ensure that the exemption claims made by drug companies are valid and justified.

Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from the source mentioned below. Our team utilized an AI language model to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.

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