Centre expands MedTech pricing committee; includes industry representatives

The Centre has expanded the committee for drugs and medical devices pricing reforms and included industry representatives as special invitees.

This follows the request by the Industry to broaden the committee by adding representatives of different associations.

Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Department of Pharmaceuticals (Pricing Division) has issued a revised list of special invitees.

“Based on the requests received from various industry associations for inclusion of their representatives as special invitees in the committee, it has been decided to broaden the list and include the representatives of the Pharma and MedTech Associations,” said Khayi Leishingam, Joint Director, in the order.

The new list of special invitees includes Director General, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI); Managing Director, US-INDIA Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF); Chairman, Medical Technology Association of India (MTal); the Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Director, US India Business Council (USIBC); Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI); Forum Coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED); Executive Director, Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE); Representative of AdvaMed; Representative of ADMI (Association of Diagnostic Manufacturers of India); Representative of BDMAI (Bulk Drugs Manufacturers Association of India) and Representative of ASSOCHAM.

Last month, the Centre formed a high-level panel to introduce reforms in the pricing framework for drugs and medical devices.

The terms of reference for the panel include institutional reforms within the NPPA and how to balance the price and availability of essential medicines while providing incentives to the industry to sustain growth and exports.

Also, the panel will suggest a price moderation framework for medical devices, while providing incentives to the industry to sustain growth and minimize imports, and for emerging and precision therapies to facilitate their timely reach to needy patients.

The last time the pricing mechanism for drugs was revised was in 2013 when the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO 2013) was introduced.

Some of those who work to increase access to medicines in the country have protested against the composition and terms of reference of the panel, saying it was shocking that the pharmaceutical industry has been invited openly to “capture policymaking”.
MB Bureau