Rajouri : An Orientation Programme to generate consumer awareness on price monitoring and availability of pharmaceutical drugs was organized in Rajouri District by Price Monitoring & Resource Unit, (PMRU) J&K under the aegis of Drugs & Food Control Organisation, J&K.
The primary function of PMRUs is to assist NPPA in monitoring the prices of drugs, ensuring availability of drugs and raising consumer awareness.
The PMRUs act as collaborating partners of NPPA with information gathering mechanisms at the grass-roots level to ensure seamless availability of all essential medicines and report the violations on notified prices of scheduled and non-scheduled formulation to NPPA through State Drugs Controller.
The objective of the Programme was to highlight the importance of affordability and availability of safe, quality and efficacious drugs to the end users and to ensure that there is no shortage of drugs in the U T of J&K
Prominent and eminent dignitaries from Health Department, District Administration, representatives from Pharma Associations and Drug regulatory authorities were present in the Programme.
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, VikasKundal was the Chief Guest of the function, who enlightened the participants about various challenges surrounding the field. He sought active co-operation of all stakeholders for bringing effective changes in the pricing scenario of drug molecules. He said that the department shall continue to organize several awareness programmes to rope in support for the PMRU initiatives.
The State Drug Controller, LotikaKhajuria gave a detailed overview of the activities undertaken by PRMU of J&K. She complimented the stakeholders for their overwhelming support during Covid-19 Pandemic. She expressed satisfaction over the working of PMRU, J&K. She informed that NPPA is maintaining surveillance over pricing of drug molecules to accord broader coverage to existing list of capped formulations (Scheduled & Non-Scheduled).
Deputy Drugs Controller, Jammu, MohdIqbalPalla delivered a comprehensive speech, covering all activities undertaken by NPPA and PMRU. He explained the mechanism and approach required to expose incidents of overcharging by pharma companies for initiating action by NPPA.
Assistant Drugs Controller,( HQ) J&K, Surinder Mohan Tikoo, added that PMRU can play an important role in the healthcare system as our BPL population can get benefitted if drug molecules are prescribed in generic names only. He emphasized that an aggressive awareness campaign can help to generate mass awareness about consumer related issues in pharma business.
Hinna Hamid gave a detailed PowerPoint Presentation highlighting the achievements of the PMRU Unit. She assured the august gathering that the PMRU Unit shall strive hard to achieve the objectives enshrined under PMRU.
The participants from trade shared their practical experience with the stakeholders. They unanimously advocated for effective surveillance over drug molecules which are not uniformly priced but have a broader relevance in the healthcare system.
Assistant Controller Drugs, ArchanaMujoo presented vote of thanks to the participants. She said that the stakeholders can do a better job by working in tandem and complimenting each other in our endeavor to achieve the mandate of PMRU.
