Parliament Question: Supply of Life Saving Medicines

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2352 TOBE ANSWERED ON 13thFEBRUARY,2026 SUPPLYOFLIFE SAVINGMEDICINES †2352.SMT.DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

SHRINILESH DNYANDEVLANKE:

SHRIBHUMARE SANDIPANRAOASARAM:

DR. SHIVAJIBANDAPPAKALGE:

Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:

(a) the steps taken/proposed tobe takenbythe Government to ensure anuninterrupted supply chain of life saving and essential medicines to Government hospitals and rural health facilitiesacross variousStates of the country;

(b) whether the Government is considering any proposal to revise the existing maximum price limits for life saving medicines, including those listed in the National List of Essential Medicines(NLEM) andif so, the details thereof,State-wise,includingMaharashtra; and

(c) the current status of the expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendras (generic medicine stores) in rural areas of Maharashtra and the measures that are being taken to ensure the availability of medicinesat the primary healthcarelevel? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (c): Under the National Health Mission (NHM), financial support is provided to the States/UTs for strengthening theirhealthcare delivery system including support for provision of free essential medicines in public health facilities based on the requirements posed by States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope. Under Free Drugs Service Initiative, Ministry has recommended facility wise Essential Drugs List (EDL) to be made available at the public healthcare facilities in the countrytoensure widespread accesstoessential medicines.

The Ministry has adopted a multi-layered monitoring approach to identify and address gaps in procurement, supply chain, and stock management. Many States have adopted digital platforms like Drugs and Vaccine Distribution Management System (DVDMS) to track procurement, consumption, and replenishment of the drugs. Field visits by senior officials of Union Government as well as State Government also monitor the availability and utilisationof these services.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under Department of Pharmaceuticals fixes the ceiling prices of scheduled drugs as listed in Schedule-I of DPCO, 2013 which is based on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) published by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. No manufacturer (whether generic or branded) of scheduled medicines can sell such drug above the ceiling price (plus applicable Goods and Service Tax) fixed by the NPPAwhether in urbanor rural area.As per the provisions of DPCO, 2013, ceiling prices of scheduled formulations are revised every year as per annual Wholesale Price Index (WPI) (all commodities) for preceding calendar year on or before 1st April of every year, which is notified by the Government on the 1st day of April every year. In case of non-scheduled formulation, manufacturers are required not to increase MRP by more than 10% of the MRP during preceding12months.

Qualitygeneric medicinesare made availableat affordable pricestoall underPradhanMantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the State Governments. As on 31.12.2025, 713 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAK) have been opened in the State of Maharashtra underPMBJP.

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