Considering the impracticality in implementation of price revision notifications periodically issued by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) which should be implemented with immediate effect, the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) has demanded amendment in Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013 to ensure the hassle free implementation of NPPA's price revision notifications.

“At present chemists have to cease sale of drugs with immediate effect, once their prices have been revised by NPPA through notification under DPCO 2013. Drug retailers find it very difficult to implement price revision notification with immediate effect as it is not at all practical, and if forced to do so, then shops shall be closed for at least 10 to 15 days to weed out thousands of brands already bought by retailers of old higher prices. Question of availability of essential drugs should be seriously dealt with,” said J S Shinde – president, AIOCD at a function organised by NPPA to mark its 19th Foundation Day on August 29, 2016 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Shinde said that though price control is under the purview of NPPA and AIOCD supports the cause of ensuring reasonable prices to common public, to ensure availability of essential drugs in transition period, the NPPA must provide at least 180 days to trade & industry to continue sale of old stocks. Amendment in DPCO 2013 is the need of the hour to remove ambiguity to carry on smooth trading operations.

Besides this, he also raised concern over illegal online sale of medicine posing a threat to survival of small chemists. Possible misuse of internet sale may be a serious risk to the public at large, particularly NDPS drugs consumed by tech-savvy youth of India, he added.

The provisions in Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 Rules 1945, which allow dispensing and sale of drugs by doctors and hospitals is another area of encroachment on retail chemists which is totally neglected by the government.