New Delhi: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has issued notices to as many as 12 pharma companies notices for introducing drugs without the prior notice to the authorities in the recent past, a press release issued by PIB said. There are as many as 22 drugs that have been introduced by these 12 companies in the Indian market without prior approval of the authority. Most importantly, there are some big pharma names that are expected to be fair and responsible in business.

The NPPA regularly takes action against such companies as per provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO) which has been issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The NPPA has so far issued demand notices for an amount of Rs. 101 crore against defaulting companies. Out of this, an amount of Rs. 5.56 crore has been recovered and demand notices amounting to Rs. 89.31 crore are under litigation.

Cases of new drugs are identified from the market-based data being referred to by the NPPA. In addition, new drug cases are also identified through complaint or information received from other sources.

Since the inception of the NPPA in August 1997 till June 2019, 2038 demand notices have been issued to pharmaceutical companies for overcharging patients on the sale of formulations at prices above the ceiling prices notified by the NPPA. Demand notices have been issued for a total amount of Rs. 6370.20 crore, out of which Rs. 893.34 crores have so far been recovered from the pharmaceutical companies. An amount of Rs. 4032.55 crore is under litigation.

Here goes the list of the companies and the drugs:

This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister for the Chemicals & Fertilizers, D .V. Sadananda Gowda in the Lok  Sabha on Monday.