The Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Ananth Kumar launched ‘Pharma Jan Samadhan’ scheme here today. It is a web enabled system for redressal of consumers’ grievances relating to pricing and availability of medicines, created by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). Shri Ananth Kumar also released Compendium of Ceiling Prices of Essential Medicines 2015 prepared by NPPA. Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers Sh. Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals Dr. V.K. Subburaj were also present during the launch ceremony. The ‘Pharma Jan Samadhan’ scheme has put in place a speedy and effective complaint redressal system with respect to availability and pricing of medicines. It would serve as a robust e-governance tool for protection of consumers’ interests through effective implementation of the Drugs (Price Control) Order 2013. ‘Pharma Jan Samadhan’ will provide consumers and others with an on-line facility to redress their
complaints relating to over-pricing of medicines, non-availability or shortage of medicines, sale of new medicines without prior price approval of NPPA, and refusal of supply for sale of any medicine without good and sufficient reason. NPPA will initiate action on any complaint within 48 hrs of its receipt.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Sh. Ananth Kumar said that the new initiative shows that the government or NPPA is not only regulator but more of a facilitator. He said that this phama-literacy initiative would create awareness among the people and would act as a deterrence against black-marketing, spurious medicines, and inflated cost of drugs. Shri Ananth Kumar said that the pharma industry stands on three pillars- quality, availability and affordability, and ‘Pharma Jan Samadhan’ is a step in this direction. The Minister said that pharma is the sun-rise sector of the country and considering the size, it seems to be a fit case to make a separate Ministry to handle issues relating to pharmaceutical industry. Lauding the NPPA initiatives the Minister said that this would help in making the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Make in India’ a reality. Earlier speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said that this is a step in empowering the common man. He said that the health is the prime issue for the people and making them aware about availability and pricing of medicine would help in improving the system. On the issue of Compendium he said that this would be helpful for both consumers as well as pharma industry. The Secretary, Department of Pharmaceutical Dr. V.K. Subburaj said that the web-based portal will de-mystify the pricing of essential medicines. He said the Government is working to make drugs available at affordable rates. He said that the drugs made in India are cost-effective and jan-aushidhi scheme is being re-designed to provide quality medicines at cheaper rate to the poor people.
