The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has decided to extend the notification related to price regulation of oxygen concentrators based on the Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) approach applicable for six more months, till May 30, 2022.

Besides, the period to report stock details of four medical devices - bare metal stents, drug eluting stents, orthopaedic knee implants and oxygen concentrators has been relaxed from monthly to quarterly basis.

The Authority, in its meeting held on November 15, noted that the notification issued in June, 2021, related to price regulation of oxygen concentrators based on TMR approach is applicable to November 30, 2021.

Recommendations of the Standing Committee on Affordable Medicines and Health Products (SCAMHP) in its fourth and fifth meeting held on May 25 and 30, this year, was also taken into note by the authority, before deciding on the extension of the price regulation period.

“The Authority deliberated upon the matter in detail and was of the opinion that as Covid pandemic is still a risk to public health; availability of oxygen concentrators at affordable prices must be ensured,” said the minutes to the meeting.

Hence, it was decided that the notification be extended, before it expires, for another six months up to May 30, 2022. The Authority further decided that the matter be forwarded to SCAMHP for its recommendations.

According to the notification issued by the Authority in June, 2021, the Government has put a cap on the trade margin of oxygen concentrators at the first point of sale of the product, at 70 per cent.

In the same meeting, the Authority discussed the topic related to changing the reporting of stock related submissions quarterly instead of monthly for certain capped medical devices. The Authority deliberated upon the matter in detail and decided that the submission of information relating to stock details of medical devices namely, bare metal stents, drug eluding stent, orthopaedic knee implants and oxygen concentrators may be reported on quarterly basis instead of monthly.