The Centre has said that the new National Pharmaceutical Policy will have the names of essential medicines under the basket of drugs for price control, other than the existing list of 74.

`` Keeping in view the directions of the SC it has been proposed in the draft National Pharmaceutical Policy, 2006 that basket of drugs for price control would be the essential medicine as contained in the NLEM 2003 in addition to the 74 drugs which are at present under price control under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995'', the centre said.

After the finalisation of the Policy a new DPCO would be issued for controlling prices of identified essential medicines, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers B K Handique said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Besides, it has also been proposed in the new draft National Pharmaceutical Policy, 2006 that a separate Drugs (Price Regulation and Control) Act may be introduced to strengthen NPPA for effective monitoring and enforcement of Drug Prices, he said.