Delegation of Powers to National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority Stand

he Government has clarified that it had not withdrawn powers delegated to the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) on 30th May 2013, within the framework of the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy (NPPP) 2012 and the Drugs Pricing Control Order (DPCO), 2013. It is further stated that the orders dated 10.07.2014 issued by the NPPA; fixing prices of certain drugs in exercise of powers under para 19 of DPCO, 2013 have not been withdrawn. 

 

In the light of some writ petitions filed in Bombay and Delhi High courts, the NPPA withdrew certain internal guidelines that it had earlier issued on 29.05.2014, after a consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice. It was decided to convey the same to the Hon’ble Courts. 

 

The clarification comes in the wake of some media reports which indicated that the Government had withdrawn powers of the NPPA to fix or revise prices under para 19 of DPCO, 2013. There were also reports that Government has directed the NPPA to withdraw the notifications dated 10.07.2014 fixing prices of 108 non-scheduled drugs. These reports are denied.