The Right to Information Act is aimed to promote openness, transparency and accountability in Administration.

1. National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority its functions & Duties
   The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), an independent body of experts in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, was formed by the Govt. of India vide Resolution published in the Gazette of India No.159 dated 29.08.1997.

 Function of NPPA

(I)To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Price Control) Order DPCO in accordance with powers delegated to it.
(II) To undertake and/or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/formulations.
(III) To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps.
(IV) To collect/maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc. for bulk drugs and formulations.
(V) To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority.
(VI) To render advice to the Central Government on changes/revisions in the drug policy.
(VII) To render assistance to the Central Government in parliamentary matters related to drug pricing.

2. Powers and Duties of Officers & Employees of NPPA

The general powers & duties of officers are as follows:

To implement and enforce the provisions of Drugs (Prices Control) Order in accordance with the powers delegated by Department of Pharmaceuticals

To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority.

To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps

To render assistance to the Central Government in the parliamentary matters relating to the drug pricing.

3. The Procedure followed in decision making process including channels of supervision and accountability

National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy (NPPP) was notified by the Government of India on 7th December, 2012. The key principles for regulation of prices of medicines as outlined in the NPPP are (i) essentiality of drugs, (ii) control of formulation prices only and (iii) market-based pricing. The NPPP, 2012 in accordance with the principles of essentiality of medicines has adopted the National List of Essential Medicines 2011, which was declared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the purpose of price fixation. A total of 348 ‘active pharmaceutical ingredients’ (excluding repetitions) were listed in the NLEM 2011.

Pursuant to the announcement of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2012, Government notified Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013) on 15th May, 2013. All the medicines specified in the National List of Essential Medicines 2011 (NLEM) have been included in the First Schedule of DPCO, 2013 and brought under price control. Under DPCO, 2013, prices of drugs are fixed on ‘Market based pricing’ methodology in accordance with the principles outlined in the NPPP, 2012.

The NLEM Core-Committee through a series of meetings and consultations across the country, deliberated and revised the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2011 as National List of Essential Medicines NLEM 2015 dated 10.03.2016 and now there are 377 medicines in NLEM 2015.

Under the DPCO, 2013, ceiling price of scheduled medicines is fixed based on the market-based data, inter alia, by taking simple average prices of all those manufacturers who have market share more than or equal to 1% of total market turnover on the basis of Moving Annual Turnover (MAT) of a specified medicine. The ceiling price is derived by adding 16% margin on the simple average price to the retailer (PTR) for the specified medicine. As provided for under the Order, the local taxes if actually paid, wherever applicable on actual basis, will be added to the ceiling price to arrive at the Maximum Retail Price to the consumers.

NPPA has fixed the ceiling prices in respect of 890 medicines under NLEM 2015 (as on 31.07.2022) (including medicines for diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Asthma, HIV, analgesics and antipyretics and TB etc). Upward revision in the prices of scheduled formulations is permissible to the extent of increase in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the particular year.

NPPA is also empowered, in case of extra-ordinary circumstances, if it considers necessary to do so in public interest, to fix the ceiling price or retail price of any drug for such period, as it may deem fit and where the ceiling price or retail price of the drug is already fixed and notified, the NPPA may allow an increase or decrease in the ceiling price or the retail price, as the case may be, irrespective of annual wholesale price index for that year.

NPPA has also fixed the retail price of 2023 ‘new drugs’ (As on 31.07.2022) which fall within the purview of Para 2(u) of DPCO.2013) under para 5 of DPCO, 2013, since operationalisation of DPCO, 2013.

The prices are notified through Gazette Notifications which are also uploaded on NPPA’s website at www.nppaindia.nic.in.

NPPA is entrusted with the job of monitoring the availability of drugs and to identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps to make the drugs available. NPPA is carrying out this responsibility mainly through the State Drugs Controllers, NGOs and individuals. NPPA also give permission for discontinuation of scheduled medicines and also processes price exemption request received under Para 32 of DPCO, 2013.

NPPA is enforcing and implementing the prices of scheduled and non-scheduled formulations on the basis of reference received from State Drugs Controllers and purchase of sample from the open market. Action for recovery of the overcharged amount is taken as per the provisions of DPCO, 2013 and the overcharged amount is recovered along-with interest due thereon. In case the demand is challenged by the company in the Court of Law, the matter is persuaded by filing cases against the company.

4. The norms for the discharge of its functions

The Government notified DPCO, 2013 on 15th May, 2013 in supersession of DPCO, 1995. NPPA is governed by the provision of DPCO, 2013 which is available on the NPPA’s website

Salient features of DPCO, 2013.

• Drug formulations listed under the National List of Essential Medicines are under price control.
• Ceiling price calculations are based on ‘market-based data’ as opposed to ‘cost-based inputs’ under DPCO, 1995.
• Controls only drug formulation price as opposed to both bulk drugs and their formulation under DPCO, 1995.

Constitution of Authority

The constitution of NPPA is as under:

• Chairman (in the rank of Secretary/Addl. Secretary to Govt. of India).
• Member Secretary (in the rank of Joint Secretary to Govt. of India) Ex-Officio Members
• Drugs Controller General (India), CDSCO, Deptt. of Health and Family Welfare
• Economic Adviser, Deptt. of Economic Affairs
• Adviser (Cost), Deptt. of Expenditure

5. Statement of categories of documents that are held by it or under its control.

• Manual of Office Procedure.
• General Financial Rules (GFR).
• Delegation of Financial Power Rules (DFPR)
• FR/SR

6. The rules, regulations, instruction, manuals and records, held by the Department or under its control or used by its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions:

• (I) Documents related to of Authority Meeting
• (II) Compendium of price of scheduled medicines
• (III) Files related to fixation of ceiling price
• (IV) Status of overcharging cases
• (V) Monitoring of scheduled and non-scheduled formulation
• (VI) Permission of discontinuation granted for scheduled medicines

7. The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with or representation by the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation there.

Consultation made on various issues with the AIOCD, FICCI, OPPI, IDMA, CII, FOPE, IPA, AIDAN Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, DCG(I), NIPER for formulation of its policy or implementation thereof.

8. A statement of the boards councils, committees and other other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the its advise and as to whether meetings of those boards councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public

The organization is conducting the Authority meetings at regular interval of one or two months. The minutes of meeting and outcome is posted on the website and is accessible to the public.

9. Directory of Officers & Employees

The Directory of Officers & Employees is available on NPPA’s website.

Monthly remuneration received of Officers & Employees (as on 15.10.2020)

The scale of pay in respect of various officers are as follows:

11. Name, Designation and other particulars of Central Public Information Officer

Name: Shri Saurabh Bansal
Designation: Deputy Director and CPIO
Address:3^rdFloor, YMCA Cultural Centre Building, 1, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi – 110001
Email: saurabh[dot]bansal50[at]gov.in

Name: Shri Manmohan Sachdeva
Designation: Advisor (Cost) and FAA
Address:3^rdFloor, YMCA Cultural Centre Building, 1, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi – 110001
Email: adv-pricing[dot]nppa[at]nic[dot]in; mm[dot]sachdeva[at]nic[dot]in

Name: Shri Sanjay Kumar
Designation: Advisor (Cost) and FAA
Address:5^th Floor, YMCA Cultural Centre Building, 1, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi – 110001
Email: sanjay[dot]kr72[at]nic[dot]in

12. No. Of employees against whom Disciplinary action has been proposed/ taken

NIL

13. Programmes to advance understanding of RTI

NIL

14. Transfer policy and transfer orders

Not applicable

BUDGET AND PROGRAMME

15. Budget allocated to each agency including all plans, proposed expenditure and reports on disbursements made etc.

12 Foreign and domestic tours

13 Information related to procurements

14.The manner of execution of subsidy programmes.

There are no subsidy programmes being implemented by this office.

15. Discretionary and non-discretionary grants

The details of the grants given under CAPPM scheme are available on the website at:

https://www.nppaindia.nic.in/en/schemes/cappms/pmru-guidelines-2/

16. Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits of authorizations granted by the public authority

No concessions or permits are issued by NPPA.

17. CAG & PAC paras

NIL

PUBLICITY BAND PUBLIC INTERFACE

18. Particulars for any arrangement for consultation with or representation by the members of the public in relation to the formulation of policy or implementation there of

All the draft working sheets for price notifications are published on the website for a specified period of time before the matter is placed before the Authority for approval.

19. Are the details of policies / decisions, which affect public, informed to them

Yes, all the decisions are taken in the meetings of the Authority and the minutes of meeting of the Authority are placed on the website.

20. Dissemination of information widely and in such form and manner which is easily accessible to the public.

Dissemination of information is done through various social media portals/ applications. Further, Pharma Sahi Daam portal is available on our website and the same is also available in the form of a mobile application. NPPA also publishes bimonthly e-newsletter Aushadh Sandesh.

21. Form of accessibility of information manual/handbook

All the documents are placed on the website.

22. Whether information manual/ handbook available free of cost or not

Yes. All the documents are placed on the website, which can be downloaded free of cost.

E- GOVERNANCE

23. Language in which Information Manual/Handbook Available

English. However, all gazette notifications, E-newsletter, mobile application and other major documents are issued in both Hindi and English.

24. When was the information Manual/Handbook last updated?

2022.

25. Information available in electronic form

Yes.

26. Particulars of facilities available to citizen for obtaining information

All information relating to working of NPPA are available on the website www.nppaindia.nic.in . NPPA has published a compendium containing prices of Scheduled formulations, under Drug (Price Control) Order, 2013, which is available on NPPA’s website. NPPA has also launched a facility for citizens named Pharma Jan Samadhan where consumers can lodge online complaints against availability of medicines, overpricing of medicines, sale of ‘new drugs’ without prior price approval (WPA) and refusal of supply or sale of medicines.

27. Such other information as may be prescribed

(i)Grievance redressal mechanism

Complaints can be filed on CPGRAMS portal or Pharma Jan Samadhan Portal.

(ii)Details of applications received under RTI and information provided

During the F.Y. 2022-23, 88 number of applications were received till 30-09-2022

(iii)List of completed schemes/ projects/Programmes

CAPPM is currently being implemented by NPPA

(iv)List of schemes/ projects/ program me underway

CAPPM is currently being implemented by NPPA

(v)Details of all contracts entered into including name of the contractor, amount of contract and period of Completion of contract

Contract Details

 (vi)Annual Report

The Annual Report of DoP is published on the website https://www.pharmaceuticals.gov.in/

(vii)Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

FAQs are published in our bimonthly e-newsletter in every edition.

28. Receipt & Disposal of RTI applications & appeals

During the F.Y. 2022-23, 88 number of applications were received till 30-09-2022

During the F.Y. 2022-23, 04 number of RTI appeals were received till 30-09-2022

29. Replies to questions asked in the parliament

NPPA provides inputs for the replies to Deptt. Of Pharmaceuticals and does not reply to the questions directly.

INFORMATION DISCLOSED ON OWN INITIATIVE

30. Item / information disclosed so that public have minimum resort to use of RTI Act to obtain information

All the major information and document is already placed on the website.

31. Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) is followed (released in February 2009 and included in the Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedures (CSMOP) by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions, Govt. Of India)

NPPA has not yet obtained STQC certification for its website.