Even as the implementation of Pharmaceutical Policy 2002 with its pro-reform recommendations for pruning the number of drugs under Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO) by half continues in limbo due to ongoing litigations, the Central Government has identified decontrol of drug prices as a priority initiative to be taken up in a time bound manner.

According to list prepared by the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on Chemical Industry and further deregulation of drug prices are the thrust areas for implementation. The department has also drawn action plans, which talks of drug prices to be further decontrolled on the basis of a clear set of regulatory principles. Strengthening the institutional mechanism for price regulation is also given high priority.

The initiatives are among the 163 Priority Agenda Items or thrust areas relating to programmes and policy initiatives that have been identified by the government for implementation in various sectors. The concerned ministries and departments have drawn up their action plans, wherever required, with time frame in respect to their programmes or projects and policy initiatives for monitoring on a regular basis.

The Ministry of Science & Technology has prioritized development of models of public private partnerships for collaborative R&D between private companies and governmental S&T Institutions as well as universities, to share the costs and benefits (IPRs). Establishing centres of excellence and modernisation of national laboratories to strengthen R&D and bringing in smooth transition to a new IPRs regime to leverage the comparative advantage of the country in knowledge based industries are the other high priority areas.

The Ministry of Health on its part would attempt to bring in suitable policy interventions to encourage the doctors to practice in rural areas. Setting up of a Drug Regulatory Mechanism including the regulation of the issue of spurious drugs, mainstreaming ISM&H and utilising services of ISM practitioners for improving access to health care, effective interventions to improve the quality of CGHS services and a comprehensive review over the functioning of super specialty institutions like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to improve the quality of services are the other areas identified by the ministry.

Of the 163 Priority Agenda Items/Thrust Areas, 31 items are to be monitored by the prime minister with the assistance of Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and remaining 132 items through Committee of Secretaries. Thrust Areas requiring involvement of multiple agencies and participation of various state government authorities are expedited through coordination meetings at higher levels. In some Thrust Areas, group of ministers monitor to expedite the concurrence and views of the participating agencies.