Expressing concern on the delay in the finalisation of the pharmaceutical policy, the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has urged the Union government not to be led by the lobbying against policy.
The members of the panel, at its meeting on Wednesday backed the move to bring more essential drugs under price control. Poor people suffering under high inflation are unable to purchase basic medicines and the early passage of the policy and its implementation will bring the needed relief to the poor, according to them.
They also reminded the government that making drugs available at affordable prices is part of the commitment of the UPA government. They expressed apprehension that a lobby is working to stall the passage and government should find ways to get it passed at the earliest.
The new pharmaceutical policy was referred to the Group of Ministers (GoM), which has so far held four meetings. A list of 354 drugs prepared by the Ministry of Health, considered as essential drugs will be brought under the price control regime once the policy is approved, the meeting was informed.
Members of the Consultative Committee also urged the government to increase production at the public sector undertakings under its control which can soften prices in the market. Responding to the members, the minister for chemicals and fertilisers Ram Vilas Paswan said, the government has already revived Hindustan Antibiotics, Hindustan Insecticide, BCPL and HOCL while revival of IDPL is under the active consideration of the GoM, an official release said.
Members of Lok Sabha Surendra Prakash Goyal (INC), Jhansi Lakshmi Botcha (INC), Ganesh Prasad Singh (RJD), Chandrakant Bhaurao Khaire (SS), P Chalapathi Rao (TDP), Virjibhai Thummar (INC) and Bagun Sumbrui (INC) and Members of Rajya Sabha Tapan Kumar Sen (CPI-M), Mahendra Sahani (JD-U) and Kumar Deepak Das (AGP) were also present.