Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
16-August, 2017 18:54 IST
Government fixes ceiling prices of Knee Implants; People of India to save Rs.1500 crore per annum
It is a step to prevent Unethical Profiteering and ensure Affordable and Quality Healthcare for the Last Man: Shri Ananthkumar
Overcharging of Knee Implants would be strictly monitored and penalized
“Walking the talk of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s speech on Independence Day 2017, the Government has fixed the ceiling prices of orthopaedic implants used in knee surgeries from today”, informed Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananthkumar, while addressing the media here today. Based on the numbers of about 1 to 1.5 lakh orthopaedic knee procedures done in India every year, there will be a saving of about Rs.1500 crore for the people of India per annum. It is a step to prevent Unethical Profiteering and ensure Affordable and Quality Healthcare for the Last Man, the Minister added.
Shri Kumar said that as per the data analysis of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, there was huge margin in trade which was found to be unreasonable and in a way unethical 'profiteering'. The NPPA, while fixing the ceiling prices, has kept all the new technology implants in mind and prices have been fixed accordingly, which are as follows:
Type of Knee Implant
Average MRP Earlier (Rupees)
Average Price Reduction
New Ceiling Price and MRP* (Rupees)
Cobalt Chromium (most widely used)
1,58,324
65%
54,720
Special Metal like Titanium & Oxidized Zirconium
2,49,251
69%
76,600
High Flexibility Implant
1,81,728
69%
56,490
Revision Implants
2,76,869
59%
1,13,950
Specialised Implants for Cancer & Tumour
Company specific prices; to be fixed by NPPA at Rs. 1,13,950
*Companies will print the MRP by adding GST on these ceiling prices
Shri Kumar informed that it is estimated by World Health Organization (WHO) that by 2020, osteoarthritis is going to be the fourth largest cause of immobility in the world. India has about 1.2 to 1.5 crore orthopaedic patients who require orthopaedic implant surgery. Most of the diagnosed people requiring knee surgery are not able to afford because of very high cost. Government is reforming this state of affairs putting a ceiling on knee implants from today, the Minister added.
Shri Kumar said that the Government expects full cooperation from all the stakeholders including importers, distributors, retailers, hospitals etc. in ensuring that the benefit of reduction of prices of knee implants reaches the last man. The Minister added that all complaints of overcharging would be strictly monitored and the overcharged amount would be recovered from erring parties with an interest of 18% over it. A step further, Shri Kumar added that the Government might also consider cancelling of licenses and initiate criminal proceedings against stakeholders engaged in unethical profiteering.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, Shri Jai Priye Prakash, Secretary Pharmaceuticals and Shri Bhupendra Singh, Chairman NPPA.
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Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
16-August, 2017 15:10 IST
Department of Pharmaceuticals to observe Swachhta Pakhwada
Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India is observing Swachhata Pakhwada from 16-31st August, 2017.
Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has underlined the need for all Ministries and Departments to take up their Swachhata Pakhwada much more seriously and on a substantial scale in order to make clean Indian a reality.
Action plan of Swachhata related activities prepared by the Department and circulated to all its organizations is being implemented. During the Swachhata Pakhwada, fortnight long cleanliness drives in the office/premises of the Department and autonomous institutes and public sector undertakings under its administrative control are being launched. The Department will carry out various activities relating to Swachhata such as weeding out of files, cleaning of office premises and Establishment etc.
Further, the Department has involved various Pharma and Medical Devices Associations and their manufactures, traders, retailers and chemists in the country to contribute positively towards this important initiatives of the Government. On 14.08.2017, Secretary (Pharma) took a meeting of the representatives of the Pharma Industries and advised them to (i) create awareness about the cleanliness among the employees and neighborhood areas, (ii) to adopt a defined area and maintain its cleanliness with involvement of the local authorities even after the Swachhata Pakhwada, (iii) to generate awareness for cleanliness drive through media at regional as well as at national level and (iv) to institute awards for Swachhata which would be given to manufactures/chemists etc. , at the Annual Pharma/ Medical Devices meet.
A mass pledge on the occasion has been administered by Secretary (Pharma) on 16.08.2017 in the Department and similar pledges were also administered in Pharma PSUs and NIPERs.
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The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan witnessing the signing ceremony of an MoU between CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) and Janssen Pharmaceuticals to pursue translational research in the domain of tuberculosis so as to address emerging challenges, in New Delhi on August 16, 2017. The DG, CSIR, Dr. Girish Sahni and other dignitaries are also seen.
The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan addressing at the signing ceremony of an MoU between CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) and Janssen Pharmaceuticals to pursue translational research in the domain of tuberculosis so as to address emerging challenges, in New Delhi on August 16, 2017. The DG, CSIR, Dr. Girish Sahni and other dignitaries are also seen.
The Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananth Kumar addressing the press conference on fixing of ceiling prices of Knee Implants, in New Delhi on August 16, 2017. The Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya is also seen.
The Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananth Kumar addressing the press conference on fixing of ceiling prices of Knee Implants, in New Delhi on August 16, 2017. The Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya, the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Shri Jai Priye Prakash and the Principal Director General (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Shri A.P. Frank Noronha are also seen.
The Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananth Kumar addressing the press conference on fixing of ceiling prices of Knee Implants, in New Delhi on August 16, 2017. The Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya, the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Shri Jai Priye Prakash and the Principal Director General (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Shri A.P. Frank Noronha are also seen.