DOP directes NPPA to refix the price of Phenobarbitone 30 mg and Sodium Valprorate 200 mg tablets

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has directed the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to examine the data/information once again and to re-fix the retail price of Phenobarbitone 30 mg and Sodium Valprorate 200 mg tablets.

This came after Abbott healthcare Pvt has filed a petition against the decision of NPPA to revalue the data once again, as the NPPA has fixed the prices of said drugs on the basis of August, 2015 data.

Earlier NPPA has fixed Rs. 0.93 per tablet for Phenobarbitone 30mg tablet and Rs. 3.07 per tablet Sodium Valprorate 200mg tablet.

During the personnel hearing, the Petitioner company contended that while fixing ceiling price of Phenobarbitone 30 mg. tablet, NPPA considered August, 2015 data while NPPA had subsequently notified upward revision of ceiling price for Phenobarbitone 30mg on 24.02.2016 Rs. 1.63 and Rs 1.59 on 02.03.2016 towards negative WPI reduction, a fact which was not considered while fixing the price .

With regards to Sodium Valprorate, the company stated the NPPA considered the price Epilex 200 while fixing the price of Sodium Valprorate, when the fact is that the manufacturing & marketing of Epilex 200mg Tablets 15’s pack have been stopped since year 2011. Moreover, NPPA considered Epilex 200mg Tablets 10’s PTR as Rs 2.61 per tab, whereas actual PTR should be Rs. 2.71 per tab.

In reply, NPPA has commented that the company has not submitted any representation to NPPA in this regard.

During the Examination, the department of pharmaceuticals (DOP) looked into the company’s grievance regarding Phenobarbitone 30 mg, that NPPA took the August,2015 PTR while fixing ceiling price in June, 2016, instead of taking the revised ceiling price granted to them in February/March, 2016. The DOP then found that the contention of the petitioner company that taking August,2015 PTR and ignoring February/March, 2016 price fixation by NPPA, while fixing ceiling price in June, 2016 has got merit.

In view of the above, the department of pharmaceuticals (DOP) has come out with a decision that;

NPPA is hereby directed to refix the ceiling price for Phenobarbitone 30 mg. tablet using revised prices. NPPA is also directed to examine the documents submitted by the petitioner company on merit, and refix/revise the price of Sodium Valprorate, if necessary.