New Delhi: A committee formed for “institutional reforms” National Drug Pricing Authority (NPPA) is filled with representatives from the industry that the authority is supposed to regulate. Public health workers have pointed out the absurdity conflict of interest In Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is forming a committee regarding 14 Pharma Association’The delegates were included as “special invitees”.

The committee initially constituted on March 12 had a core group of Secretary DoP, Chairman NPPA and its Senior Economic Advisor along with two special invitees, Secretary General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) and CEOs of Indian drug manufacturers. Organization.

However, after the DoP received several representations from other industry associations to include their representatives as special invitees, on April 24, 12 representatives from trade groups and pharma associations, including CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, US- The list of special invitees was expanded to include. India Strategic Partnership Forum, Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India and Association of Indian Medical Device Industry.

will not only Industry representative Be part of reforming the pricing authority, but they will also be part of drafting the new Medicines and Medical Devices (control) order, which is supposed to regulate the price of their products.

“The standard practice is that stakeholders are consulted by a government committee. The committee fixes hearings and various stakeholders appear before it and give their inputs. But how can they be part of the committee? It is a clear conflict of interest. Malini Aisola told that there is a conflict All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), an advocacy group working on rational use of medicines and improving access to medicines.

NPPA has to regulate the pricing of medicines and ensure their availability and accessibility. drug price control order This is the order by which price controls are implemented, and it is the order in which radical change will be made. These are in the public interest, but the committee that scrutinizes the functioning of the DPCO is dominated by the pharma industry, which has always opposed price controls, although the drugs are estimated to account for only 14 per cent by value and 25 per cent by volume. . Keep prices under control.

“Will the pricing control system be reformed in the interest of the industry or the public? This is a clear case of policy capture by the industry. How can the industry be inside a committee to decide on regulation of the industry?” Aesola asked.