Task Force to Explore Options other than Price Control for Achieving the Objective of Making Available Life-saving Drugs at Reasonable Prices

The Task Force was constituted to explore options other than price control for achieving the objective of making available life-saving drugs at reasonable prices. The Task Force recommends that price regulation should be on the basis of ‘Essentiality’ of the drug and it should be applied only to formulations and not to upstream products, such as bulk drugs. No effort should be made to impose a uniform price, and only a ceiling price should be indicated.All patented drugs and formulations should compulsorily be brought under price negotiation prior to the grant of marketing approval.To create public awareness and to educate the people, a dedicated web site needs to be created in addition to other possible modes of enhancing public awareness like public literatures, booklets, newsletters/magazines, etc.