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epardafas.com The Rising Nepal | Nepal's First English Broadsheet Daily.
2 sources · 3 articles
Started 16 hours ago · Updated 12 hours ago

Parliamentarian Alleges Billions in Pharmaceutical Pricing Irregularities; DDA Director Recalled

Photo · risingnepaldaily.com

Member of Parliament Rajib Khatri alleged that the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) engaged in irregularities leading to billions of rupees in pharmaceutical price increases. Following his parliamentary speech, the DDA's Director General was recalled to the Ministry of Health and Population. Medicine manufacturers contend that current fixed prices are unsustainable due to rising industrial input costs.

  • The DDA has fixed the maximum retail price (MRP) for 117 products, including common and chronic ailment medications, through notices published in the Nepal Gazette in 2015 and 2007.
  • Manufacturers argue that the Drug Advisory Council, responsible for price setting, is difficult to convene, leading to prices remaining unchanged for nearly two decades.
  • Section 26 of the Drugs Act, 2035, empowers the DDA to fix drug prices with government approval and gazette publication.
  • The DDA previously fixed the MRP for 21 products, including paracetamol and ORS, via a ministerial-level decision in 2007.

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Department of Drug Administration Nepal Gazette Ministry of Health and Population Rajiv Khatri Drugs Act, 2035

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