Re: [india-drug] Drug pricing: Centre gives ultimatum to cos. (3)

["anita kotwani" <anitakotwani@msn.com>]

 Drug pricing: Centre gives ultimatum to cos. (3)
***************************************************  

Dear Dr. Baru and all the members,

   Thanks  for  appreciating  the  importance of the topic. Other members
   have also appreciated the topic for discussion.

   Please  put in your suggestions and views so that thread of discussion
   goes on.

   Regards

   Anita Kotwani
(Dr. Anita Kotwani)
Department of Pharmacology
V.P.Chest Institute
University of Delhi
Delhi 110007
  <anitakotwani@msn.com>      ______________________________________________________________

     From:  "rama baru" <rbaru2002@yahoo.co.uk>
     Reply-To:  India-Drug             Communication             Network
     <india-drug@healthnet.org>
     To:  India-Drug Communication Network <india-drug@healthnet.org>
     Subject:  Re:  [india-drug] Drug pricing: Centre gives ultimatum to
     cos. (2)
     Date:  Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:26:50 +0000 (GMT)
     >Drug pricing: Centre gives ultimatum to cos. (2)
     >*************************************************
     >
     >Dear Dr Kotwani,
     >    I  think  that  you  have raised an important issue that needs
     discussion..I hope this forum will initiate it.
     >
     >Rama Baru
     >**please add profession and affiliation**
     >rama baru <rbaru2002@yahoo.co.uk>
     >
     >anita kotwani <anitakotwani@msn.com> wrote:
     >   Drug pricing: Centre gives ultimatum to cos. (1)
     >*************************************************
     >
     >Dear All,
     >
     >We  have  'free  market'  for pharmaceuticals and it is the market
     forces
     >that determine the final /retail price of a medicine. There is no
     >control of government on prices of medicines except the prices of
     >74 bulk drugs that are listed in DPCO which are fixed by NPPA. In
     >that  list  also  price of medicines of a few drugs is not revised
     for a
     >long  time  and  these  medicines are available at a very variable
     price
     >in the market, one of such medicine is Ciprofloxacin.
     >
     >On  September 22, 2006 there was an article in The Times of India,
     New
     >Delhi,  stating that pharma industry has agreed to cap the margins
     of
     >wholesalers  (15%)  and  retailers(35%)  and  hence  the prices if
     common
     >drugs  (off  patent)  would  fall  by  30-50%.  This  self-imposed
     discipline
     >was  to  be  in  place  from  October  2,  2006. But the prices of
     medicines remain the same.
     >
     >On November 8, 2006, the times of India, New Delhi edition has an
     >article, Drug pricing: Centre gives ultimatum to cos" that states
     >that  Centre has issued deadlines for drug manufacturers to reduce
     the
     >MRP  (Maximum Retail Price) of 886 drugs by November 15, otherwise
     the
     >GOVERNMENT  WOULD THEN NOTIFY THESE DRUGS TO BE SOLD AT THE PRICES
     AGREED UPON BY THE MANUFACTURERES.
     >
     >It  is  high time that some policy changes are made and some check
     is
     >imposed on the manufacturer for the prices of medicines. Prices of
     >medicines  have  an  impact  on  the  affordability  of  drugs and
     ultimately
     >access to essential medicines. In India more than 80% of drug
     >financing  is  out-of-pocket  -  patients  have  to  pay  for  the
     medicines
     >themselves. High prices of medicines are a barrier to good health.
     >
     >The group can discuss the ways to decrease prices of medicines and
     >increase the availability of medicines both in public and private
     >sector  so  that  access of health care is improved especially for
     the
     >poorer section of the society.
     >
     >Anita Kotwani
     >Department of Pharmacology
     >V.P.Chest Institute
     >University of Delhi
     >"anita kotwani"
     >_________________________________________________________________
     >
     >
     >_______________________________________________
     >Post message: india-drug@healthnet.org
     >Subscribe: india-drug-join@healthnet.org
     >Unsubscribe: india-drug-leave@healthnet.org
     >Help: india-drug-owner@healthnet.org
     >Info & archives:
     http://list.healthnet.org/mailman/listinfo/india-drug
     >
     >
     >  Send     instant     messages    to    your    online    friends
     http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
     >_______________________________________________
     >Post message: india-drug@healthnet.org
     >Subscribe: india-drug-join@healthnet.org
     >Unsubscribe: india-drug-leave@healthnet.org
     >Help: india-drug-owner@healthnet.org
     >Info & archives:
     http://list.healthnet.org/mailman/listinfo/india-drug
     _________________________________________________________________

   One and only Ash. Find out all about her. [1]Only on MSN Search

References

   1. http://g.msn.com/8HMAENIN/2755??PS=47575