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As a part of Central government’s mandate to set up price monitoring cell in all the states, Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has submitted Utility Certificate (UC) for the funds to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for setting up the infrastructure for NPPA cell based with an amount of Rs.7 lakh sanctioned for the purpose from the centre.
Meanwhile, Gujarat government has also formed a committee to oversee recruitment of manpower for the state NPPA cell for effective detection of ceiling price violations in drugs and devices. A total of seven personnel including a scientific officer will be deputed for the purpose of collection of data on price violations in the state based on the much awaited financial support from the Central Government.
Government has earmarked an amount of Rs.67 lakh for all category A states in the country of which Rs.7 lakh has been earmarked for infrastructure and equipment, Rs.19 lakh for manpower, Rs.24 lakh for training, Rs.12 lakh for data collection and sampling and Rs.5 lakh as contingency fund.
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Himanchal Pradesh etc fall under the category of A states. “Infrastructure for the NPPA cell has been set up with central government funds. We are awaiting for the funds for manpower. Centre will give us monetary help for recruitment of manpower for the NPPA cell and the state is assigned to provide the required space for the same,” says Dr H G Koshia, Gujarat FDCA Commissioner.
NPPA had discussed and proposed the plan with the state drug regulators to set up a dedicated administrative cell within its office way back in 2015. While the expenditure related to manpower, amenities and other infrastructural cost will be borne by the Centre, state government will have to provide the space for setting up the office within the state drug regulatory office, as per the plan.
NPPA held a meeting with all the state drug controllers in 2015 in Delhi to set up price monitoring cells in all the states across the country. With the implementation of the plan, violations reported will be dealt timely with the help of the state NPPA cells in case they find any contravention to the provisions of Drug Price Control Order (DPCO).
Through the price monitoring cells, NPPA will closely work with the state drug regulators to find out any discrepancies that affect the consumers. The officials heading the cell will report their findings to the NPPA directly in case they find any pharma company violating the law by selling the drugs above the ceiling price.
Under the proposed scheme, the cell is to be headed by one person along with a team of NPPA officials whose strength will vary as per the size of the pharma industry in the respective states. NPPA has categorised the states based on three categories, i.e. based on maximum, minimum and least number of pharma cos in the state for better division of work.
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also given its consent to the NPPA to set up a price monitoring cell in the state for effective detection of drug price violations.
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