Although major pharmaceutical associations in the country are yet to get together to make a joint presentation to the Group of Ministers (GoM) on National Pharmaceutical Policy, initial response suggests that the associations will strongly oppose any move to bring more drugs under price control.

Buoyed by the olive branch extended by the GoM in its first meeting on April 10 that all pharmaceutical associations and NGOs will be given opportunity to present their side of the story, the associations are once again flexing their muscles to oppose tooth and nail the Union Chemical Ministry's proposal to bring 354 drugs under price control.

The GoM in its meeting in Delhi on April 10 has decided to invite all the major pharmaceutical associations and NGOs in the country to present their case before taking a final call on National Pharmaceutical Policy and price control.

Though discussions are yet to be held on the issue of making the final strategy to be adopted for the presentation to the GoM, sources said the associations are unlikely to make any major changes in the presentation they had made to Union Chemical Ministry secretary Satwant Reddy.

"There are differences among the associations on some issues like patent, but one issue on which there are no differences is price control. All the associations will oppose any move to bring more drugs under price control", Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) president and Alkem Laboratories managing director BN Singh said.

Pleading that the competition in the market will take care of price of the medicines, Singh said, the Association is very firm on this position. Giving the example of ciprofloxacin, a medicine under price control, he said the competition in the market has brought down the price of this medicine to a substantial level.

When contacted to Dr Ajit Dangi, General Secretary, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers in India (OPPI) said, "I don't want to comment on this issue at this stage."