National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)- Relevance for UPSC Exam
- GS Paper 2:
- Indian Constitution- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
- Governance, Administration and Challenges- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)- Context
- National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is organizing a webinar as part of activities to commemorate the occasion of 75th anniversary of Indian independence during the year-long ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
- Theme: “Affordability and Innovation: Ensuring Quality Drugs for All”.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)- Key Points
- About NPPA: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) was constituted through a Government of India Resolution in 1997.
- NPPA Headquarter: New Delhi, India.
- Mandate of NPPA: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) act as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
- Parent Ministry: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) works as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)- Key Functions
- The NPPA fixes the price of drugs on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) under schedule-I of Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO).
- The NPPA is responsible for implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), (1995/2013) in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
- The NPPA monitors the availability of drugs, identifies shortages, if any, and takes remedial steps accordingly.
- National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) also renders advice to the Central Government on changes/revisions in the drug policy.
- The NPPA also collects/maintains data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, the profitability of companies etc. for bulk drugs and formulations.
- It is also entrusted with rendering assistance to the Central Government in parliamentary matters relating to drug pricing.