Wednesday, August 17 2005 13:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A Task Force set up to explore various options other than price control for making available life saving drugs is likely to submit its report shortly, Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan informed Rajya Sabha today (Aug 17, 2005).

A Ministerial Committee that examined the span of price control, including trade margin, to suggest measures to ensure availability of life saving drugs at reasonable prices has already submitted its interim report and follow up action has been initiated, Paswan said making a statement on a calling attention on drugs prices and misuse of drugs.

On misuse of drugs particularly those having psychotropic effect, Paswan said the state controller authorities have been advised to take necessary steps for strict enforcement of rules to avoid easy availability of such medicines.

He said the state drug control authorities also monitor such sale of drugs as per prescribed conditions of licenses.

Regarding drugs prices, Paswan said 74 bulk drugs and their formulations were under price control and during the past one year the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised prices of 59 bulk drugs and 513 formulations.

In case of 51 bulk drugs, prices have been reduced from 0.1 per cent to 64.4 per cent while in 7 cases there were slight increase, he said adding one bulk drug price was fixed for the first time.

Out of 513 formulations, prices of 247 were revised downwards and 204 were fixed for the first time, he said adding in 13 cases there was no change and only in 49 cases there was nominal price increase.