The Government has initiated steps to frame a method to make sure that the drugs patented abroad remain affordable as and when the multinational companies launch them in India.

The Chemicals Ministry has held a meeting of the concerned parties here recently and sought proposals from the industry associations to create a methodology for price negotiation of drugs and medical devices patented abroad and are marketed by multinational companies in India.

The first meeting in this regard was attended by representatives of IDMA and OPPI from the pharma industry, among other officials. The industry associations were asked to submit their proposals to evolve the system of reference.

With the proposed National Pharmaceutical Policy, currently under the scrutiny of the Group of Ministers, incorporating provisions for negotiated prices for patented drugs, the present move is aimed at shoring up the support of the industry for an amicable mechanism before the draft policy is cleared.

The government had formed a panel to look into the matter and was planning to deny marketing rights of patented drugs without negotiated pricing. The panel, after holding interactions with the industry, NGOs and other interested groups, is likely to finalise a report by the end of April.

However, the industry looked little interested in yet another mechanism to control prices of drugs as many of the associations stayed away from the interactions. ``We are not very keen with the proposal of having yet another mechanism of price control. We have been asked to submit our suggestions in this regard anyway,'' OPPI director general Dr Ajit Dangi told Pharmabiz.

A number of multinational companies are in the process of introducing various patented drugs into the Indian market in the coming months, cashing in on the amended Patent Act. Many of the leading companies are learnt to be lobbying hard with various Government agencies to ensure that no restrictions are imposed on the pricing of patented drugs.

Sometime back, Pfizer chairman Hank McKinnel had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly with the same issue of regulating the prices of patented drugs. He also appraised Chemicals Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath of the matter.