A GLIMPSE OF THE ‘FREE ’ MARKET:
WHAT HAPPENS WHAT DRUGS ARE NOT UNDER PRICE CONTROL:
Sl. No. |
Name of Drugs |
Drug Under price control |
Lowest Price brand In Rupees and Manufacturer |
Highest Price Brand In Rupees and Manufacturer |
Highest priced brand /lowest priced x 100 |
Drugs for bacterial infections: like pneumonia, urinary tract infections |
|||||
1. |
Ofloxacin 200 mg |
NO |
Rs. 3.2 /Zo, FDC |
Rs 31.0 / Tarivid, Aventis |
969% |
2. |
Levofloxacin 500mg |
No |
Rs. 6.82 / Levoflox, Cipla |
Rs 95.0 / Tavanic, Aventis |
1392% |
3. |
Azithromycin250mg 1 tab |
No |
Rs 8.5/ Zathrin, FDC |
Rs.39.14/ Vicon,Pfizer |
460% |
Drugs Used in Viral Infections Including HIV/AIDS |
|||||
4 |
Zidovudine |
No |
Rs. 7.7 |
Rs. 53.52 |
695% |
|
100 mg1tab |
|
Zidovir ,Cipla |
Retrovir, GSK |
|
Drugs Used in Heart Disease, Hypertension, High Cholesterol
|
|||||
5. |
Amlodipine5 mg1tab |
No |
Rs. 1.51 Amlodac, Zydus Cadila |
Rs. 6.0 Amlogard, Pfizer |
397% |
6. |
Atenolol50mg1tab |
No |
Rs. 0.4 Ziblok, FDC |
Rs. 2.45 Tenormin, Nicholas Piramal |
612% |
7. |
Valsartan 80 mg |
No |
Rs. 5.90 Valzaar,Torrent |
Rs. 41.0 Diovan, Novartis |
694% |
Drugs Used in Diabetes |
|||||
8. |
Pioglitazone |
No |
Rs. 0.99 Pio, Systopic |
6.0 Piozone, Nicholas |
606% |
|
15 mg1 tab |
|
|
|
|
9. |
Glimepride1 mg1 tab |
No |
Rs. 0.8 Glimestar, Discovery(mankind) |
5.30Amaryl, Aventis |
696% |
Drugs Used in Cancer |
|||||
10 |
Tamoxifen10 mg 1 tab |
No |
Rs. 2.7/Tamodex, Biochem |
Rs. 20.0 /Nolvadex, ICI |
741% |
11. |
Letrozole 2.5 mg |
No |
Rs. 9.9 Oncolet (Biochem |
Rs. 181.5 Femara(Novartis |
1833% |
Drugs for Psychiatric ailments: |
|||||
12. |
Risperidone 2 mg |
No. |
Rs.1.69 Respidon(Torrent) |
Rs. 27.0 Risperdal Ethnor |
1598% |
Drugs for Metabolic disorders |
|||||
13. |
Risedronate 35 mg |
No |
50.12 Risofos (Cipla) |
500 Actonel(Aventis |
997 % |
Drugs for Arthritis |
|||||
14. |
Leflunomide 10 mg |
No |
8.0/ Rumalet(Zydus Cadila) |
44.0 / Arava (Aventis) |
550% |
Drugs for erectile dysfunction |
|||||
15. |
Sildenafil citrate100 mg |
No |
29.16 |
584 |
2002% |
|
|
|
Penegra (Zydus Alidac) |
Viagra (Pfizer) |
|
Source: MIMS INDIA, March 2006, CIMS: January –April 2006.
DOES THIS SITUATION CALL FOR GREATER REGULATION OR LESSER AS THE PHARMA SECTOR IS DEMANDING?
Some other Relevant References:
“ Firstly it was clear Medicines cannot be left to the market and government regulation is essential. The fact that almost all the developed countries in the world have a very strict regulation of prices is enough evidence that governmental regulation is required.”
Regional Advisor, Essential Medicines,WHO South-East Asia Regional Office,New Delhi, in Summary of a workshop on “Medicine Prices in the SEA region” SEAR Pharm Forum, December 2003, Chennai.
As a result of the costs of a single hospitalization, 35% of people fall below the poverty line. Out-of-pocket medical costs alone may push 2.2% of the population below the poverty line in one year. (India – Raising the Sights: Better Health Systems for India’s Poor, World Bank May 2001).
Global experience has shown that the introduction of a TRIPS-consistent patent regime for drugs in a developing country results in an across-the-board increase in the cost of drugs and medical services. – EXCERPT FROM THE NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY 2002.
The decentralized Public health service outlets have become practically dysfunctional over large parts of the country… the supply of drugs by the State
Governments is grossly inadequate. (National Health Policy 2002)
2004 : the government investigated trade margins in 3 commonly used drugs, Nimesulide, Omeprazole, Cetrizine and found astronomical margins.
“Even if a 100% extra charge is levied at each stage, the price of the medicine must not increase more than four-five times of the production cost. We have found that it is 30 times more in some cases.” Minister of Chemicals Mr. Ramvilas Paswan.
2006 : The Government has yet to act on this information.
The price control of drugs should based on production cost. The new pharma policy base on average maximum retail price of drugs available in the market is eye wash as the prices of drugs are already very high in comparison to their production cost. In fact, a hefty sum goes to doctors as promotional goods in the form of cash and kinds. The drugs may be categorized into three categories – 1. New drugs, 2. drugs with special storage conditions and, 3. other drugs. The maximum retail price should be capped with respect to production cost. It may be production cost plus 200% for new drugs, production cost plus 150% for drugs with special storage condition and production cost plus 100% for other products. There should be law to regulate free bees given to doctors by the Pharma companies under Drugs and Cosmetics Act.