The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has referred 61 cases of overcharging to district collectors of different States for recovery of arrears of Rs 147.06 crore from different companies. Another 13 cases have been contested by the companies in various courts, while the agency could mop up Rs 53.74 crore in these cases so far.

The price regulator since its inception has sent notices in 680 overcharging cases involving a total of Rs 2023.39 crore and it could recover Rs 172.62 crore from the erring pharma companies as on June 30 this year, said a statement from the agency.

The companies referred to the collectors for recovery through attachment of assets include big names like Dr Reddy's, GSK Pharmaceuticals, Cadila, Wyeth and Alkem Laboratories. Gujarat leads the tally with 10 companies under process for attachment while there are nine companies from Maharashtra in the list.

As many as eight companies from Andhra Pradesh also were referred. Dr Reddy's have four cases for a total amount of Rs 78.85 crore and the Hyderabad-base pharma giant has paid only Rs 31.34 lakh in two cases to the national regulator.


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