Following National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)'s plan to set up price monitoring cells in all states across country, Rajasthan State Drug Control Department (RSCD) has already trained five drug inspectors for manning the price modulating cells in Rajasthan.

Rajasthan State Drug Control Department is, however, awaiting funds proposed for setting up the NPPA cell from the Central government to the tune of Rs.5.5 crore.

Informs Manoj Tongra, Asst Drug Controller, RSCD, "We have trained drug inspectors 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," he explains.

In order to implement effective price monitoring of drugs and report violations, NPPA held a meeting a month back with all the state drug controllers in Delhi to set up price modulating 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).

"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.

To strengthen its network and make the monitoring of the drug prices better, it has been given to understand that NPPA plans 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. A highly placed source informs that the 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.

They will be responsible to closely work with the state drug regulators to find out any discrepancies that affect the consumers. The officials heading the cell will be required to 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.