Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Chemists will have to mention in bill whether drug is price controlled -Sushmi Dey

Chemists will have to mention in bill whether drug is price controlled -Sushmi Dey

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Feb 23, 2015   modified Modified on Feb 23, 2015
-The Times of India

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to empower consumers and save them from paying more for medicines, the government is set to make it mandatory for chemists to mention in the bill whether they are selling a price-controlled product or not. Besides, the bill will also mention the price of the medicine as capped by the government.

The move will enable a consumer to make an informed choice while also checking that the maximum retail price (MRP) of a scheduled or price-controlled product is not more than what has been fixed by the government.

The Rs 88,000 crore Indian pharmaceutical market is highly fragmented and comparable medicine formulations are available under different brands. At present, the medicine invoice contains the name of the medicine, pack size, batch number and MRP. While consumers depend on doctor's prescription and chemist's dispensation, in the absence of a robust market monitoring mechanism, companies often overcharge consumers on various medicines, often by tweaking the combination or packaging it differently.

The latest proposal by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority is aimed at making consumers more aware while allowing them the choice of buying cheaper medicines.

"This will enable the consumer to know whether the medicine purchased by him/her is a scheduled medicine or non-scheduled medicine and in case it is a scheduled medicine, he/she can verify whether the MRP is within or exceeding the ceiling price plus applicable local taxes; and in case of the latter, he can file a complaint with NPPA for initiating necessary action against all concerned under DPCO 2013 and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955," the regulator said.

Initially, the NPPA had proposed that medicine packs should carry an identification mark or strip to distinguish between price-controlled and unscheduled medicines. However, pharmaceutical companies and industry bodies opposed the move saying it would create confusion for the consumer as already there is a lot of information on the pack. Besides, this would have meant incurring an additional packaging cost for drug manufacturers.

Now, the regulator has designed the new mechanism to give more power to consumers. NPPA is expected to meet pharmaceutical retailers to discuss the proposal.

Of late, the government has been formulating various plans and mechanisms to bring down prices of medicines, monitor them as well as make consumers more aware about medicines and formulation.


The Times of India, 23 February, 2015, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Chemists-will-have-to-mention-in-bill-whether-drug-is-price-controlled/articleshow/46337440.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close