Even as the national drug pricing regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has drafted a proposal for display of distinguishing mark on drug labels to make consumers aware about the ceiling prices of drugs, pharmacists in the country are pleading against display of distinguishing mark and ceiling price on the label of the drugs.
“Already there is too much information to be put on the label, and important information for the benefit of the patient is not easily readable or not being put. In such circumstances, in my opinion, it would not be appropriate to put any more labelling about the ceiling price”, said Raj Vaidya, a Panaji-based community pharmacist.
If at all the authorities do decide to put the same, then it should not be in red (because red stands for danger, and secondly, a red line already is a requisite under Drugs and Cosmetics Rule for prescription drugs). If at all, it should be in green colour, he added.
Commenting on the NPPA's draft proposal for display of distinguishing mark and ceiling price/ unit in respect of scheduled drugs under DPCO 2013 on the label of the drugs, Vaidya lamented that the NPPA has never involved or invited volunteers from amongst the retailers to report any over-priced products. This should be done because retailers are a very important resource and can be very useful partners in this.
The NPPA website should have a simple software on its website which will allow consumers, retailers, small manufacturers, or simply anyone to check the ceiling prices of price cotrolled products. Such a software should also be downloadable so that anyone can download it and use it, with regular automatic updates provision. NPPA could also develop an App for the same, which would be even more popular, Vaidya further suggested in his comments.
There should be provision for public, as well as retailers to report any price violations directly to NPPA in a user friendly manner e.g. through an App or e-mail, along with photograph of the product. (Presently, the NPPA website shows no Email id on their website. How do we send Emails to the NPPA???), he asks in his comments sent to NPPA chairman Injeti Srinivas.
Pointing out another anomaly, Vaidya said that it should be noted first of all. while under DPCO, price controlled drugs are called as “Scheduled Drugs”, it is also common amongst the chemist & druggist circles to call those drugs which require a prescription for sale as “Scheduled drugs”, and those not requiring a prescription as “Non Scheduled drugs”.
To overcome this anomaly, it is better to have two separate, clear-cut nomenclatures. Those under price control could thus be called as “Price Controlled” medicines.