Mumbai: Pharma companies need to provide the required data on production, prices, imports and exports to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to ensure better functioning, a top official said.
"Although the pharma industry is highly organised, there are considerable data gaps. The required data on production, prices, imports and exports need to flow to the NPPA in a regular manner," NPPA Chairman S M Jharwal said at an Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) function today.
"These gaps cannot be filled up unless the industry players co-operate," he said.
NPPA is an organisation set up by the Government to fix or revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of medicines in the country.
Raising concerns about rising input costs, he said that there is an immediate need for action on it.
"Input costs, particularly of sugar, have really jumped up. Some kind of data applications, giving details must be made so that a decision can be taken to capture such kind of increase," he said.
The Government has to adopt a price control mechanism for drugs as a social responsibility for ensuring that medicines are available at reasonable prices, the NPPA Chairman said.
"This (price control) is certainly a difficult task and the NPPA has to undergo a process of balancing the conflicting objectives," he said.
"I have no doubt that we can face the challenge and make drugs affordable and accessible to all sections of society," he added.
The industry should collectively take action against sub-standard and spurious drugs in the market, he said, adding that stringent punishments are being notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
"There are reports of counterfeits, sub-standard and spurious drugs in the market. We need to work towards it (to fight this menace) to the extent feasible," he said.
Vigilance by companies and enforcement action by the state authorities should be also be improved, he said.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 16, 2010, 20:40