The new government is planning to broaden the scope of price control beyond the current list of drugs under the scheduled list. Addressing a press conference here today, Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, has categorically stated that the government would prefer to enhance quality of drugs and its availability at affordable prices.

Even the drugs those have less sales turnover would be monitored by the government for the purpose of price control. The government will also be seeking options for empowering NPPA further.

The minister also said that disinvestments in the pharma sector will be the last option for the new government. Revival of all public sector drug units would be given high priority.