Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 saved Rs 12,447 crores per annum since implementation

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers recently reported at the Parliament that the DPCO, 2013 (Drugs Prices Control Order, 2013) has helped to save Rs 12, 447 crores per annum.

What is DPCO 2013?

The DPCO is an order that was issued by the GoI under Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The order provides details to fix the prices of the drugs, procedures to increase or decrease prices, penalties for defying the order, etc. The Order empowered the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) to fix the threshold prices of drugs. The NPPA is allowed to fix prices only on those drugs that are listed under National List of Essential Medicines.

National List of Essential Medicines

The list was prepared by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2011. The list was prepared with the World Heath Organization list as the base. It is mandatory that these medicines are to be made available in the country in adequate amounts. The last change was made to the list in 2018. Today there are 851 medicines under the list.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2020