Centre expands committee participation to usher in drugs pricing reforms

livemint.com:

pharmaceuticals has decided to expand the committee to oversee efforts to reform drug and medical device pricing by bringing in more industry participants, according to an order issued by it. As per the order seen by Mint, it has invited at least seven industry associations to the committee that has been tasked with striking a balance between pricing and availability of essential medicines, while offering incentives to the industry to foster growth and exports.

The move comes after many associations asked why only one pharma body had been included in the core committee. "In continuation to this Department's Order on the subject 'Composition of Committee constituted for Reforms in the Pricing Framework for Drugs and Medical Devices-regarding' and based on the requests received by the Department from various Industry Associations for inclusion of their representatives as Special Invitees in the aforesaid Committee, it has been decided to broaden the list of Special Invitee and additionally include the representatives of the following Pharma and MediTech Associations as Special Invitee in the said Committee," read the order issued on 22 April.