Health Ministry, Niti Aayog are Favoring Pharma Firms, claims RSS affiliated outfit

New Delhi In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an outfit affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is reported to have blamed the Health Ministry and Niti Aayog for their secret involvement in the price ceiling activity.

Writing to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, SJM National Co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan said, “Your departments are acting against what you have promised (to) the people of India."

“The pharmaceutical companies are making profits in the range of 500 per cent to 4000 per cent and that too after imposing price controls. This is because the current formula for arriving at a ceiling price is irrational that legitimises profiteering and is against the interests of the people,” the letter said.

He further accused that under the influence of pharmaceutical companies, officials of the Ministries of Health, Commerce and Chemicals and Fertilisers were holding meetings with the NITI Aayog to dismantle the system of price control by trying to do away with the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA), which has the authority of ceiling prices of essential medicines

He alleged, “Those in the government influenced by MNCs are trying to dismantle NPPA. The Niti Aayog has recommended dismantling of NPPA, and (also suggested) that there is no need for price regulation. Once it is dismantled, companies will be given a free hand.” In his letter, Mahajan alleged that the companies “could influence the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), which changed the ceiling price formula." reports Express

He wrote: “So powerful has the hold of the pharmaceutical companies (been) that secretaries and joint secretaries of three ministries – Health and Family Welfare, Commerce and Industry through DIPP (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion), and Chemicals and Fertilisers through DoP – are now holding meetings with the Niti Aayog to completely dismantle the system of price control.” Mahajan alleged.

He further claimed that Niti Aayog, "has a history of aligning with vested interests” to “dismantle the regime of price control."