[e-drug] Drug prices in India

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E-DRUG: Drug prices in India
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[Copied as fair use. Thanks to Gopal Dabade, India, for spotting this. HH]


http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQkcvMjAwOC8wNC8yNCNBcjAwMzA1&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Times Of India Bangalore
Apr 24, 2008
Rupali Mukherjee | TNN


Soon, a helpline to track medicines   
 
New Delhi: There's good news for consumers. If you have been overcharged while buying a medicine, or simply cannot find a particular drug in the market, you will soon be able to call a 24X7 helpline and register a complaint. 

It will help consumers to seek information on essential drugs and their prices, and also to locate a cheaper generic version if an expensive medicine (sold by the brand name) has been prescribed. 

The helpline will be run by a consumer organization, VOICE, and initially funded by the government. A toll free number, which can be accessed from anywhere in the country, is likely to be introduced soon. The helpline will also tell you prices of scheduled drugs, which are under government control. 

In another move to benefit the "aam admi", the government has decided to promote sale of non-branded generic drugs (cheaper versions of branded medicines) by setting up drug stores in each district. These stores -- to be run by non-governmental organizations and agencies like Red Cross -- will sell drugs at reduced prices.     

A facility for airing grievances and seeking information on medicines is available from Wednesday on the website of drug regulator, NPPA (www.nppaindia.nic.in). So, not only can consumers lodge their complaints online, they can also inform NPPA about nonavailability or shortage of medicines or about those being sold without government approval.