Centre changes name of SCAMPH to CAMPH, adds DoP, NPPA representatives to the Committee

New Delhi, September 27, 2022:

The ministry of chemicals and fertilisers has changed the name of the Standing Committee on Affordable Medicines and Health Products (SCAMPH), the recommending body to National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) formed through an order on January 21, 2019, to Committee on Affordable Medicines and Health Products (CAMPH).

It has also included the Secretary of Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and the Chairperson of NPPA as the members of the committee, through a fresh order.

The decision to change the name and include two more members were taken in the seventh meeting of the Committee held on August 8 and 9, said the Ministry in a latest order. The Committee, housed in the government’s think tank NITI Aayog, was constituted under the chairmanship of V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.

According to the order in January 21, 2019, the other members of the committee include the chief economic adviser with the ministry of finance, secretary to the department of health research, vice-chairperson of National List of Essential Medicines, Joint secretary of the department of industrial policy and promotion, director general of health services with the ministry of health and family welfare and subject expert in biomedical devices/pharmaceuticals/bio-technology, etc.

The Committee has been formed as a recommending body to NPPA regarding prices of drugs and health products, and it may take a matter for examination, suo-motto or on the recommendations or request of the DoP, NPPA and department of health and family welfare.

When considered necessary, the Committee may interact with the stakeholders like civil society, associations of drug manufactures and individual experts on the subject under reference. It may also co-opt experts from other government departments or ministries or organisations or pharma associations as and when required, it added.

It may be noted that it was based not he recommendation of the SCAMPH, the NPPA capped the trade margin for oxygen concentrators at 70 per cent on price to distributor (PTD) level on June 3, 2021, at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the lives and livelihood of people across the country.

The government also capped the trade margin on pulse oximeter, glucometer, blood pressure monitor, nebuliser and digital thermometer in July, 2021. As a result, most of the brands of these devices have dropped prices up to 89 per cent. PharmaBiz