The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has recently expanded the committee entrusted with reviewing pricing reforms for drugs and medical devices, aiming to foster a balanced approach to essential medicine pricing and availability.

Originally formed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals on March 12, the committee's purview now includes representatives from key industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), among others.

Objective & Terms of Reference

The committee's central goal remains to instigate institutional reforms within the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) while strategizing to harmonize the pricing and accessibility of vital medicines. Furthermore, it seeks to incentivize growth and exports within the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors.

Anil Matai, director general of OPPI, stressed the importance of a balanced pricing review process, underscoring the necessity of involving diverse stakeholders in decision-making.

Satyaki Banerjee, executive director & group COO, Trivitron Healthcare, noted the potential of the expanded committee to devise a more inclusive pricing strategy that addresses the concerns of all stakeholders.

In addition to drug pricing, the committee will explore the establishment of a price moderation framework for medical devices, aiming to reduce imports and stimulate growth in the medtech sector. Notable medical device associations such as the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) and the Association of Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) will contribute to these discussions.

Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator of AiMeD, emphasized the significance of including MedTech bodies in the committee, advocating for fair regulations to prevent price manipulation in the medical device market.

Government Commitment to Collaboration

The committee's expansion reflects the government's dedication to fostering dialogue and collaboration to address pricing reforms in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. With a diverse range of stakeholders now involved, the committee is poised to develop comprehensive strategies that benefit all parties while ensuring the availability and affordability of essential healthcare products.

In a related development, AiMeD recently set ambitious goals to triple the country's exports of medical devices to Russia within the next five years, highlighting collaborative efforts to expand market opportunities for life-saving medical equipment and devices.