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Drugs Pricing Body Urges State Regulators To Ensure Masks, Sanitisers Not Sold Above MRP

NPPA had earlier written to chief secretaries of states, principal secretaries (health) and state drug controllers.

Hand sanitizer and protective masks are displayed for sale at a pharmacy in New Delhi, India. (Photographer: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Bloomberg)  
Hand sanitizer and protective masks are displayed for sale at a pharmacy in New Delhi, India. (Photographer: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Bloomberg)  

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority on Friday asked states and Union Territories to ensure that masks and sanitisers are not sold above their maximum retail price.

"The state drug controllers and food and drug administrators of all the states and union territories have been requested to have a close vigilance in the market to check the sale of masks and sanitisers at the rates higher than the MRP," the drug pricing authority said in a tweet.

NPPA had earlier written to chief secretaries of states, principal secretaries (health) and state drug controllers, urging them to closely monitor the production and availability of APIs and formulations to prevent black marketing and hoarding in their states or UTs.

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NPPA Chairman Shubhra Singh on Thursday met representatives of pharmaceutical industry associations on the issue of availability of critical active pharmaceutical ingredients. "It is assured that sufficient stock of critical APIs and formulations is available to meet the requirements of the situation arising out of Covid-19," NPPA had said in a tweet. NPPA is an independent regulator for the pricing of drugs and ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.