India revisits plans for free generic medicines, drug price fixing

11 December 2014

Government hospitals in India that lack medicines, are overcrowded and understaffed, may soon be a thing of the past. Even as a thorough streamlining of systems is in the offing, in the distribution of free generic drugs and ensuring adequate staff at government health institutions, the Indian government is also readying to fix prices of patented drugs in the country, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

An inter-ministerial committee of joint secretaries has been set up by the Indian government to suggest different ways to fix prices of patented drugs.

“The price of patented drugs is very high. Even if they are calculated on Gross National Income with purchasing power parity, most drug prices are way beyond the reach of the general masses,'' said a government official.

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