The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has set up Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU) in Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory, taking the total number of PMRUs in the country to 12, to track drug price ceiling violation by pharma companies.1
Background
PMRU is a government body which is designed to help NPPA and State Drug Controllers in ensuring availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices. It is NPPA funded body and has already been setup in 11 states including Kerala, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Mizoram. PMRU has been setup to monitor price control due to lack of a field-level links between the NPPA and the State Drugs Controllers to monitor drug prices.
Objectives of PMRU are:
- To monitor notified prices of medicines
- To detect violation of the provisions of the DPCO
- To look at price compliance, collect test samples of medicines
- To collect and compile market-based data of scheduled as well as non-scheduled formulations.
The PMRU, a registered society, shall function under the direct control and supervision of State Drug Controller of Jammu & Kashmir. The unit shall be funded by NPPA for its recurring and non-recurring expenses. The PMRU shall help NPPA and State Drug Controller in ensuring availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices. It is also expected to organise seminars, training programs and other information, education and communication (IEC) activities in the areas of availability and affordability of medicines for all.
PMRU will also collect samples of medicines, collect and analyse data and make reports with respect to availability and over-pricing of medicines for taking action under the provisions of Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). This assumes added significance as PMRU, J&K, will assist NPPA and Government in checking overpricing and identifying causes & addressing local issues of shortages/hoarding in the current situation when country is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion
NPPA has set up different PMRU units in different states in order to maintain the price control on medicines between the customers and manufacturers and make them available to the public at an affordable price.
Footnote
1. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=200878
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