Mumbai based NGO Society for Awareness of Civil Rights has approached National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to recover the excess amount earned by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) by overcharging its paracetamol brands-Crocin Advance and Calpol suspension. Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already prohibited sale of drugs worth Rs.one crore three lakhs from across the state till date.

In the letter sent by the NGO to the NPPA Chairman CP Singh, dated 23 April 2014, It has requested NPPA to come out with an independent observation on the matter and report the same to the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DOP) for seeking an explanation for lapses on the part of respective drug regulators. It is therefore required to seek trail of quantity of the paracetamol drug product manufactured and sold with subsequent orders for further recovery of the overcharged amount to be deposited in the Government exchequer with interest.

It is understood that GSK is maintaining that Calpol 120 mg/5 ml is not listed under DPCO. “We therefore pray and submit that clarification be also issued that the intent of the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and DPCO is meant to be followed in the true spirit of the law of the land”, the letter said..

It is high time to recall all sub-therapeutic dose of Calpol suspension by the authorities concerned which has been deliberately overpriced to evade DPCO and rake in profits at the cost of patients.

The letter bears significance as Maharashtra FDA had issued a stop sale order last month for paracetamol brand Calpol 60 ml syrup on account of overpricing. However, a GSK spokesperson while contradicting the prohibition maintains, "The underlying principle of the NPPA and DPCO 2013 is to include those medicines that are under National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) having specific strengths and dosage. Calpol suspension of 120 mg/5ml which is available in the market for more than 30 years is not part of National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and hence is outside the purview of DPCO schedule 2013."

President of Mumbai based NGO Society for Awareness of Civil Rights R P Yajurvedi Rao, however, begs to differ and says," GSK is playing with the therapeutic dosage of the paracetamol brands to come out of the DPCO purview and rake in huge profits. The NGO in a letter addressed to the FDA in the past has also requested to seize and recall all Crocin Advance stocks having Rs.30 as MRP for 15 tabs.

Maharashtra FDA is currently in the process of seizing the stocks of Calpol suspension.

"We therefore demand that the actions be taken to revoke drug license, recall all the overpriced paracetamol brands and order to deposit the proceeds of the excess amount collected into the public exchequer," Rao added.