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Indian government outlines policies on drug pricing to favor poorer patients, and increase clinical trials

Indian government outlines policies on drug pricing to favor poorer patients, and increase clinical trials

The Indian government is looking to review the existing drug price control measures in order to make medicines more affordable in the country, and at increasing the number of clinical trials taking place in the country, reports The Pharma Letter's India correspondent.

In a parallel move, the Health Ministry is also preparing a framework for public private partnership to tackle the menace of non-communicable diseases in the country, In a move that could potentially result in affordable Medicare and health security moving to a larger section of the population, the government is considering a rash of policy measures in favor of poor patients.

Talks are also on in government circles to abolish clinical trials on proven drugs that have been approved and marketed for at least two years in the European Union, United States, UK, Australia, Canada and Japan.

A draft proposal in this regard has been prepared by the Health Ministry. If instituted, it would reduce the time taken to introduce new drugs in India to just 45 days from five-six years.

Making medicines more affordable

The government has constituted a panel comprising joint secretaries from the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Health and Family Welfare Ministry, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) member secretary and Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI), among others, to recommend steps to make medicines more affordable.

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