The Government today said the central departments, public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies will give first preference to central pharma PSUs like IDPL and their subsidiaries for purchasing 102 medicines for a period of five years.
As per a decision of the Cabinet, which met here today, the first preference will also be given to these pharma PSUs and their subsidiaries by state governments in their purchases which are funded by the Centre.The purchasing departments may invite limited tenders from pharma PSUs and their subsidiaries or purchase directly from them at notified price with a discount up to 35 per cent, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
If no pharma CPSE is forthcoming to supply these medicines, the purchasing departments would be at liberty to buy from other manufacturers, I& B Minister P R Dasmunsi said.
The purchasing departmens would purchase from these PSUs, and their subsidiaries, subject to their meeting Good Manufacturing Practices norms.
The purpose of the Purchase Preference Policy is to make available quality drugs under various health schemes and help in optimum utilisation of assets of these public sector units, Dasmunsi said.
The size of pharma market in the country stands at Rs 50,000 crore, including exports of around Rs 17,000 crore. Of this, central departments purchase around Rs 2,000 crore of medicines and state governments account for another Rs 1,500-2,000 crore per annum for their health programmes.
Source:PTI News
