IDMA urges Centre to introduce prospective batch pricing towards compliance to DPCO guidelines

Mumbai, February 16, 2023 :

The Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) has urged the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) that the applicability of ceiling prices should be done from the immediate prospective batch towards compliance to Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO-2013).

Once done, this can be followed with submission of Form V by the manufacturers in the Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System (IPDMS 2.0) which should be considered as information submitted officially, the IDMA recommended.

As of today, ceiling prices once notified are effective immediately. Intimating 8 lakh pharmacies overnight and asking them to comply immediately with the reduced price is beyond the scope and reach of any company.

Each company intimates its C&F/super stockists and stockists immediately and also submits Form II and V price lists on the IPDMS site as per the DPCO guidelines. Even if a single strip of a scheduled formulation is found at a retail counter with a price higher than the notified price, the company is issued notices for overcharging despite the fact that the company has no direct agreement with the retailer.

IDMA members have also voiced their concern that there are multiple notifications on record regarding the process to call back the stocks and revise the prices. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and DoP should clarify in this regard well in advance so arrangements can be made by the companies to revise prices as per guidelines and to avoid getting embroiled into overcharging issues.

NPPA has introduced IPDMS 2.0 towards creating an authentic database of information on products, prices, production and sale of scheduled, non-scheduled formulations and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It also aims to optimize synergies in operations by providing a single window for submissions of various forms as mandated under the DPCO - 2013. PharmaNews