NPPA extends ceiling price of LMO,Oxygen Inhalation till December 31,2022

This came in line with the decision of 102nd Authority meeting held on 27th of September under the Chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Chairman, NPPA where the extension of revised price of Medical Oxygen was discussed.

Liquid oxygen is used as an oxidant for liquid fuels in the propellant systems of missiles and rockets. Oxygen is widely applied in the metal industries in conjunction with acetylene and other fuel gases for metal cutting, welding, hardening, cleaning and melting.

Oxygen Inhalation involves breathing oxygen in a pressurized chamber or tube. This allows lungs to gather up to three times more oxygen than one would get by breathing oxygen at normal air pressure. The extra oxygen moves through your blood and to your organs and body tissues.

The Authority at its 102nd Authority meeting noted that the price fixed for Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and Oxygen Inhalation (Medicinal gas) in cylinder vide SO. 3322 (E) dated 25.09.2020 applicable up to 31.03.2021 were extended upto 30.09.2021 vide SO. 1335(E) dated 25.03.2021, and then upto 31.12.2021 vide SO. 3936(E) dated 23.09.2021, and then again upto 31.03.2022 vide SO. 5424(E) dated 28.12.2021, again upto 30.06.202 2 vide SO. 1508(E) dated 30.03.2022 and then further extended upto 30.09.2022 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, vide SO. 2982 (E) dated 30.06.2022.

In this context, comments/inputs were sought from Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for further extension of prices for Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and Oxygen Inhalation (Medicinal gas) in cylinder beyond 30.09.202 2 vide letter dated 31.08.202 2 and e-mail dated 13.09.2022.

The matter was deliberated in the meeting of EG-4 in DPIIT on 27.09.202 2, which was attended by Advisor, NPPA, wherein it has been decided that prices of Medical Oxygen (LMO) and Oxygen Inhalation (Medicinal gas) in cylinder be further extended for 3 month i.e. 31.12.2022.

The Authority deliberated upon the matter in detail and considering the continuing COVID pandemic decided that the revised price of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and Oxygen Inhalation (Medicinal gas) in cylinder fixed vide SO. 3322 (E) dated 25.09.2020 and extended vide SO. 1335(E) dated 25.03.2021, SO. 3936(E) dated 23.09.2021, SO. 542 4(E) dated 28.12.2021, SO. 1508(E) dated 30.03.2022 and SO. 2982 (E) dated 30.06.20 2 2 be further extended up to 31.12.2022 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, in public interest.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that according to the direction given by The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had capped the price of liquid oxygen at Rs. 15.22 per cubic meter at the manufacturing end, whereas, for oxygen cylinders, the price cap was Rs 25.71 per CM. Both prices were exclusive of the GST.

In view of this, NPPA, in its latest notice stated,

"The prices of 'Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO)' and 'Oxygen Inhalation(Medicinal gas) in cylinder' fixed under Para 19 of the DPCO, 2013 and powers conferred under section 10(2)(l) of Disaster Management Act, 2005 delegated by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare vide Order No. Z-33014/45/2020-RCH/Pt.File-3dated 23.09.2020, vide notification S.O. 3322(E) dated 25.09.2020, issued by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry ofChemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, applicable upto 31.03.2021 andextended upto 30.09.2021 vide S.O.1335(E) dated 25.03.2021, then extended upto31.12.2021 vide S.O. 3936(E) dated 23.09.2021, then extended upto 31.03.2022 videS.O.5424(E) dated 28.12.2021, then extended upto 30.06.2022 vide S.O.1508(E) dated30.03.2022 and again extended upto 30.09.2022 or until further order whichever isearlier vide S.O. 2982(E) dated 30.06.2022 are further extended upto 31.12.2022 oruntil further order, whichever is earlier."

In addition, it went on to say,

"All the notes and other contents mentioned in the original order S.O. 3322(E) dated25.09.2020 read with S.O.1335 (E) dated 25.03.2021, S.O. 3936(E) dated 23.09.2021,S.O. 5424(E) dated 28.12.2021, S.O. 1508(E) dated 30.03.2022 and S.O. 2982(E)dated 30.06.2022 shall remain the same and are applicable except that in Note (a) forthe phrase "30th September 2022 or until further orders, whichever is earlier" it is to be read as "31st December 2022 or until further orders, whichever is earlier."