National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)

Table of Contents

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2:
- Indian Constitution- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
- Governance, Administration and Challenges- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is organizing a webinar as part of activities to commemorate the occasion of 75th anniversary of Indian independence during the year-long ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
Theme: “Affordability and Innovation: Ensuring Quality Drugs for All”.

About NPPA: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) was constituted through a Government of India Resolution in 1997.
- NPPA Headquarter: New Delhi, India.
Mandate of NPPA: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) act as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
Parent Ministry: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) works as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.

The NPPA fixes the price of drugs on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) under schedule-I of Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO).
The NPPA is responsible for implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), (1995/2013) in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
The NPPA monitors the availability of drugs, identifies shortages, if any, and takes remedial steps accordingly.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) also renders advice to the Central Government on changes/revisions in the drug policy.
The NPPA also collects/maintains data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, the profitability of companies etc. for bulk drugs and formulations.
It is also entrusted with rendering assistance to the Central Government in parliamentary matters relating to drug pricing.