To ensure  accessibility of necessary medical devices to the common man at genuine cost ,drug price regulator,  National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department  of Pharmaceuticals ,Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers  has extended ceiling prices of Knee Implants for another one year, i.e. till 14thSeptember 2021.

A notification dated 15 th September 2020 has been issued by NPPA under Drug Price Control Order(DPCO) ,2013 (Annex-II)in this regard. 

NPPA vide Order No. S.O. 2668(E), dated 16th August, 2017 for the first time fixed the ceiling price of orthopaedic knee implants for a period of one year .This was  extended for further one year in 13th August 2018 and then on 15th August 2019. The above period ended on 15th August 2020 and the ceiling prices for knee implants for knee replacement system was due for review by 15-Aug-2020. 

NPPA in July 2020 directed all companies manufacturing and importing primary and revision knee system to submit sales data for the period July 2018 to June 2020. In its meetings held on 6th August  2020 , NPPA  after observing  the data collected from 14 major companies (10  importers and 4 domestic manufacturers) decided that the ceiling prices for knee implants as applicable on 15th August 2020 may be further extended up to one month up to 15th September 2020.  

The matter was discussed again in the Authority Meeting held on 14th September 2020. In the meeting it was noted that fixing Ceiling Prices for Orthopaedic Knee Implants in the year 2017 had resulted in price reduction up to 69% and domestic manufacturers market share has risen by 11% over the period of two years, which is in line with the Government’s motto of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.  

Keeping this in view it was felt necessary that ceiling price system continue to be regulated in wider public interest. Accordingly the Authority decided to extend the  existing ceiling prices for another one year (up to 14th September 2021) and notification dated 15th September 2020 was  issued in this regard.The move has enable to save 1500 crore Rupees of the common man.

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RCJ/RKM