The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority's Chennai Centre for Information Facilitation and Grievances (NPPA-CIFG) has published a set of guidelines for customers for their general awareness while purchasing medical drugs. This is as part of the awareness programme undertaken by the Centre to educate the people about drug price, quality and pack size.

The instructions guide the consumers to ask for a Bill whenever a drug is purchased from a medical shop and insist them not to pay any money more than the MRP. The consumers are advised to ensure that the medicine is dispensed by a pharmacist and the medicine purchased must contain the name of the formulation, composition of the formulation, pack size, address of the manufacturer, his license number, dates of manufacturing and expiry, and the maximum retail price of the product.

Guidelines clearly state that if a retailer or a manufacturer sells a medicine at a price higher than the price approved or fixed for the product, they are liable for prosecution under Essential Commodities Act. Likewise, the consumer is also advised to check for the quantity of the products other than pack size. The consumer should check the price of the strip and calculate the price of the quantity.

The Centre also gives information that every retailer is required to display the price list and supplementary price list furnished by the manufacturer, on a conspicuous part of the premises where the business is held. The price list should be easily accessible to any person wishing to consult the same.

The customers are informed that there is no provision allowing the dealer to withhold a drug, available with him, from sale or refuse to sell when a customer approaches him for purchasing it.

The Centre advises the consumers to lodge their complaints about drug pricing, packaging or quality with the State Drugs controller or deputy or assistant drug controllers or drug inspectors in the area concerned. Further they can approach the NPPA-CIFG with complaints either directly or by online. The Chennai Centre of NPPA was opened on September 26 last year.