Although National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)'s discussed and proposed a plan to set up price monitoring cells for effective detection of drug price violations in all the states three months ago, no state in the country has come up the with the NPPA cell due to no fund allocation from the Centre among other issues.

As per the plan, the drug pricing regulator aims to set up dedicated administrative cells within the offices of each of the state drug departments across the country. While the expenditure related to manpower, amenities and other infrastructural cost will be borne by the NPPA, state government will have to provide the space for setting up the office within the state drug regulatory office.

Under the proposed scheme, the cell is to be headed by one person along with a team of NPPA officials whose strength will vary as per the size of the pharma industry in respective states. NPPA has categorised the states based on three categories, i.e. based on maximum, minimum and least number of pharma cos in the state for better division of work.

NPPA held a meeting with all the state drug controllers in Delhi to set up price monitoring cells in all the states across the country. With the implementation of the plan, violations reported will be dealt timely with the help of the state NPPA cells in case they find any contravention to the provisions of Drug Price Control Order (DPCO-2013).

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed the need to set up price monitoring cells on a priority basis to strengthen its infrastructure and make the monitoring of drug prices effective.

Says Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Dr Harshadeep Kamble, "The system of monitoring through a dedicated NPPA cell will help bridge the communication gap between the NPPA headquarters based in Delhi and the state drug regulatory departments across India. We are awaiting a positive response from the NPPA on the same."

"The NPPA cell at state headquarters will ensure that violations on drug pricing are reported and addressed timely," he added.

Rajasthan State Drug Control Department (RSCD) has already trained five drug inspectors for manning the price modulating cells in Rajasthan. RSDCD is, however, awaiting funds proposed for setting up the NPPA cell from the Central government to the tune of Rs.5.5 crore.

Drug inspectors have been trained on the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO-2013) regulation and the actions to be taken upon its violation. Training has also been given on how to conduct sample survey in the market of the respective drugs covered under and outside the DPCO. Drug inspectors are also technically equipped to implement modalities for recovery of the overcharged amount earned as a profit by manufacturer through overpricing of drugs.

"Drug control departments should have such cells as it is high time that pricing is regulated through an effective monitoring mechanism," says an official from Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttar Pradesh.

Through the price monitoring cells, NPPA will closely work with the state drug regulators to find out any discrepancies that affect the consumers. The officials heading the cell will report their findings to the NPPA directly in case they find any pharma company violating the law by selling the drugs above the ceiling price.