Apparently browbeaten by the apex court in the country, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has decided to give a final shape to the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy (NPPP), 2011 within three to four weeks. The department had earlier issued the policy in October last year, replacing the Drug Policy enunciated in September, 1994.

According to sources, the DoP gave an assurance to this effect to the Supreme Court which heard the issue of the government's failure to bring down the prices of essential medicines on February 9. The department has made a commitment to the Supreme Court that it will submit the final draft policy to the Group of Ministers (GoM) on pharma policy led by union minister Sharad Pawar within three to four weeks time.

After issuing the NPPP, the DoP had invited comments and suggestions from the stakeholders till November 30 last year. The department has received a total of 60 comments from the stakeholders, including several international stakeholders including WHO. The DoP pleaded with the court that at present the department is evaluating the comments in detail. After evaluation, the department will incorporate the relevant suggestions and will give final shape to the policy in three-four weeks time and will submit the same to the GoM, the DoP assured the Supreme Court, which was evidently agitated over the government's dilly-dallying tactics on the issue of framing a pharma policy for bringing down the prices of essential medicines included in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).

However, the next hearing on the issue will be held on March 13. The court is  hearing a petition on reducing the prices of essential drugs filed by All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), an NGO working in the health sector.

Earlier last week, the Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya had asked the government to come up with its views on finalising the pharma policy and also the issue of reducing the prices of essential medicines. The NLEM has 348 drugs, of which the prices of only 37 medicines are controlled by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).