NPPA Extends Ceiling Prices Of Knee Implants Till September 2024

This came after the 116th meeting under the Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO), 2013, held on 06th September 2023 under the chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Chairman, NPPA.

Earlier, the Medical Dialogues Team had reported that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority had extended the ceiling prices of knee implants until September 15, 2023.

At the recent authority meeting, the expert panel noted that the knee implant ceiling prices were notified vide notification S.O. 4343(E) dated 15 September 2022 which is in force up to 15th September 2023.

The authority deliberated upon the matter in detail and examined the requests made by various industry associations and companies highlighting various factors such as fluctuations in foreign exchange; increase in manpower costs, freight cost, wholesale price index (WPI); supply chain problems, etc.

The Authority observed that the annual WPI with effect from 01.04.2020, 01.04.202 1, 01.04.2022, and 01.04.2023 was 1.88468%. 0.53638%, 10.76607%, and 12.1218% respectively.

Additionally, the Authority observed that the non-scheduled medical devices/drugs are monitored under para 20(1) of DPC0,2013 and the Knee Implants are non-scheduled devices/drugs.

After taking all the above into consideration, the authority decided that in continuation to the notifications S.O. 2668(E) dated 16th August 2017, S.O. 3987(E) dated 13th August 2018, S.O. 2934(E) dated 13th August 2019, S.O. 2768(E)dated 14th August 2020, S.O. 3147 (E) dated 15th September 2020, S.O. 3670(E) dated 10th Sept 2021 and S.O. 4343(E) dated 15th September 2022 regarding fixation of ceiling prices of orthopedics knee implants under para 19 of DPCO, 2013, the ceiling price shall continue for one year i,e., 15th Sept 2024 or till further order, whichever is earlier.

In light of this, the notice read,

"The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India vide S.O. 2668(E) dated 16th August 2017, S.O. 3987(E) dated 13th August 2018, S.O. 2934(E) dated 13th August 2019, S.O. 2768(E) dated 14th August 2020, S.O. 3147 (E) dated 15th September 2020, S.O. 3670(E) dated 10th September 2021 and S.O. 4343(E) dated 15th September 2022 issued notifications under Para 19 of the DPCO, 2013 regarding fixation/revision of ceiling prices of the Orthopaedic Knee Implants for Knee Replacement System. In continuation to the above notifications, it has been decided that the same may be monitored as per the provisions of Paragraph 20(1) of the DPCO, 2013. This order shall be applicable for the period of one year from 16th September 2023 (i.e. up to 15th September 2024), unless revised by another notification."

The notification further stated that "the ceiling prices for Orthopaedic Knee Implants will be reviewed after a period of one year."

Furthermore, the notice added, "the Notes (b) to (t) of the Notification S.O. 2668(E) dated 16th August 2017 shall remain in force during the currency of this order"

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