NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Chemical and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya has said that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has been working more as a facilitator, not simply as a regulator.
Mandaviya said this while addressing the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in New Delhi. He highlighted NPPA's contribution towards ensuring availability and affordability of medicines in the last 25 years.
The Health Minister also appreciated the Indian firms for continuously producing quality products. He urged them to produce medicines and bring innovative research with the target of ensuring good health and well-being of the people, not only for commercial purpose.
Mandaviya ensured ongoing government support for the Indian pharmaceutical industries. He also recalled the useful assistance provided by Indian pharmaceutical firms during the Covid crisis and emphasised the significance of government and industry collaboration in providing the general public with high-quality healthcare. Launched during the opening session were the Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 App and the Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0 (IPDMS 2.0). NPPA developed IPDMS 2.0, an integrated responsive cloud-based application, with assistance from the Centre for Advance Computing (C-DAC). As it would offer a single portal for the submission of numerous forms as required by the Drug Price Control Order, 2013, it is intended to maximise operational synergies so as to support the government's focus on "Ease of Doing Business."
The Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 Appication will have updated features including speech recognition; availability in Hindi and English; share button and bookmarking medicines and more. Through the consumer complaint handling module, this version of Pharma Sahi Daam also offers the option for consumer complaints. Both an iOS and an Android version of the app will be offered.
In addition to being present, Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for Chemicals, Fertilizers, and New & Renewable Energy, praised NPPA for its successful 25 years of service to the nation and the pharmaceutical industry.
A publication entitled 'An overview of Drug Pricing @ NPPA 25-year Odyssey' was also launched at the inaugural session. The book details not just the 25-year history of the NPPA, but also the development of the nation's drug regulatory framework, with a focus on pricing regulation.
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