NPPA Chairman sacked; Meanwhile, Harsh Vardhan says India shall showcase new drugs

The Times of India reported that the entire idea of a central scheme for free drug distribution has been given a quiet burial. Joint secretary (policy) in the health ministry Manoj Jhalani said that there will be no separate central scheme for free drugs and diagnostics.

"Free drug provision will be done by the states under the National Health Mission (NHM). The Centre will financially incentivise states to start the free drug scheme," Jhalani said.

Following this news, on April 9, 2015, Injeti Srinivas, chairman of India's National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), has been moved from his post to the position of director general of the Sports Authority of India. Srinivas, who was appointed to the position in June of last year, will continue to hold additional charge as NPPA chairman until "alternative arrangements are made."
In July 2014, the NPPA implemented price controls for more than 100 drugs used in the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, following the introduction of a new policy in 2013 regulating the prices of 652 medicines in the country, including 348 drugs deemed essential. This past December, the NPPA capped the prices of 52 additional therapies under the Drugs Price Control Order.

In protest of the changes, drugmakers and industry groups took the NPPA to court. The pricing regulator announced in September last year that it was withdrawing previously issued guidelines permitting price caps on non-essential therapies. The Delhi High Court had asked the NPPA to meet with drugmakers in an attempt to resolve the issue.

However, even as the NPPA chairman is sacked, Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan has promised that India would be showcasing new drugs for malaria, osteoporosis and diabetes. He also announced Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) is carrying out Investigational New Drug (IND) studies on lead molecules for fracture-healing, cancers, thrombosis, malaria and hyperglycemia. 
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has a track record in making drugs for kalaazar, filaria, leprosy and tuberculosis available at affordable rates to the common man.
Recently IMTECH Chandigarh has developed a clot specific streptokinase.
IIIM, Jammu has discovered natural product-based potential medicine for rheumatoid arthritis.
IICB Kolkata has developed an herbal extract for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia.
He also announced that government would soon set up the Biopharma Industry Incubator (BII) under the umbrella of CDRI Lucknow.

Will the changing face of the Indian Pharma sector mean increased prices of drugs? Or will the government boost R&D while remembering the needs of the common man? 

Please send us your views and comments!

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