National pharma policy draft proposes essential medicines at affordable rates

The Centre aims to boost domestic manufacturing of drugs, impose a cap on trade margin, crackdown on unfair marketing practices and limit 'loan licensing' by pharmaceutical companies, according to the draft national pharmaceutical policy.

The draft policy, which aims to bring sweeping changes to the pharmaceuticals industry, proposes to create a national list of essential medicines with an aim at keeping them accessible and affordable.

The draft, accessed by CNBC-TV18, mentiona that it will also create a national list of essential medicines with an aim at keeping them accessible and affordable.

The policy also talks about setting up of a National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority. The draft also aims to create an environment suitable for research and development.

DG Shah, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance told CNBC-TV18, "We are trying to form a policy without any database" and said that the industry's concerns will be forwarded to the government.

(Courtesy: http://www.moneycontrol.com//news/trends/health-trends/national-pharma-policy-draft-proposes-essential-medicines-at-affordable-prices-2362039.html/news/trends/health-trends/national-pharma-policy-draft-proposes-essential-medicines-at-affordable-prices-2362039.html)