drug price control order 2013
Drug Price Control Order 2013: Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) are regulatory measures authorized by the Essential Commodities Act (ECA) in India, with the Government of India acting as the issuing authority. These orders empower the government to establish an upper limit for the prices of essential and life-saving medicines, following a prescribed formula. Notably, in January 2019, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers introduced the Drugs (Prices Control) Amendment Order, 2019. This amendment aimed to strike a harmonious balance between the interests of consumers and producers.
This article aims to furnish pertinent information concerning Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) in the context of IAS Exam preparation, a topic encompassed within UPSC Mains GS-II, “Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.”
Several key factors need consideration in order to grasp the relevance of the Drug Price Control Order:
In response to this issue, the Government of India introduced the Drug Price Control Order to establish price guidelines for essential drugs, ensuring they remain affordable and accessible to the public.
Essential medicines are those that cater to the healthcare needs of the majority of the population. This concept was originally introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1977. The classification of medicine as ‘essential’ hinges on the following criteria:
Key Attributes of Essential Medicines:
The Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) underscores the necessity of implementing measures to streamline the use of essential medicines. Some actions that the government can take include:
Drug Price Control Order (DPCO): Read here about the facts of Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) Amendment 2019 provided in the table below:
Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) Amendment 2019- Fact | |
Introduction | Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers |
Main DPCO Amendments | 1. A drug manufacturer introducing an innovative patented drug is exempt from price control regulations for 5 years (from the date of marketing). 2. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) received recommendations for the amendments from NITI Aayog. 3. Drugs used to treat rare or “orphan” diseases are also exempt from price control to promote their production. 4. The Central government continues to determine prices based on available market data. 5. Market-based data is sourced from a pharmaceutical market data specialist company as determined by the government. 6. If needed, the government may validate such data through a suitable survey or evaluation. |
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