The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has sent notices on the grounds of overcharging in eight more cases in the last two months to take the total number of such cases to 1001 since its inception.
The total amount sought to be recovered from the erring companies thus reached Rs.3161.68 crore while the total amount recovered was Rs.260.4 crore upto November this year.
According to the latest figures released by the agency, a total of 72 cases of violations, including the eight in the last two months, came into the notice of the regulator this year. The total amount recovered this year was Rs.26.03 crore against a demand of Rs.327.98 crore, thanks to the intensified efforts including notices for attachment of properties through the revenue officials of the concerned districts.
Madhav Biotech (Lintop 50mg caps), Akum Drugs & Pharmaceuticals (Slow-DX E/E drops), Aristo Pharmaceuticals (Doxomax 400mg caps), Laborate Pharmaceuticals India (Valerate-N), Shreya Life Sciences (Aspisol Tabs), Baxter India (IV Fluid), Vindica Life Sciences (Pynk), and NRI Vision (Care Slow-DX E/E Drops) were given notices during the last two months.
Among these companies, Aristo Pharmaceuticals was served with a notice for the recovery of Rs.313.52 lakhs in the case of its Doxomax 400mg Caps and the company paid to the exchequer an amount of Rs.259.75 lakhs, while most of others did not pay the dues.
Cipla has been continuing as the biggest defaulter for several years now, accounting for nearly half of the total amount of overcharging. This year also Cipla got notices in two cases (CiploxE/E Drops and D-Fylin Tab) for a total amount recovery of Rs.85.05 crore and it did not pay any amount.
During the last financial year of 2012-13, the agency sent 103 notices to recover Rs.127.76 crore on the grounds of overcharging and it managed to recover only Rs.14.97 crore. During 2011-12, notices were sent in 40 cases for a recovery of Rs.33.49 crore. During 2010-11, the total amount to be recovered in 42 cases was Rs.81.82 crore.