About NPPA

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), was established in 1997 as an independent body of experts to regulate the pricing of drugs.
• It has been constituted as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
• The Authority has been entrusted with the task of
  • Fixation/revision of prices of pharmaceutical products (bulk drugs and formulations),
  • Enforcement of provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO).
  • Monitoring of the prices of controlled and decontrolled drugs in the country.

• The NPPA currently fixes prices of drugs placed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) under Schedule-I of the DPCO. 
• Non-scheduled drugs are allowed an increase of up to 10 per cent in prices every year, which is monitored by the NPPA.
• NPPA can also fix the price for non-scheduled drugs by invoking extraordinary powers in public interest, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.

Why in News?

• Prices of N-95 Masks are being reduced by the Importers/Manufacturers/Suppliers of N-95 Masks after an Advisory issued by NPPA.

News in Detail:

• The Government has notified N-95 Masks as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
• Hoarding and black-marketing of the essential commodity is a punishable offence under the Act.
• To keep a check on the hoarding and black-marketing of the essential commodity, the NPPA had directed all States/UT Governments to ensure sufficient availability of surgical and protective Masks, Hand Sanitizers and Gloves at prices not exceeding the Maximum Retail Price printed on the pack size.