The FDA alongwith NPPA is organizing a 1-day workshop on 16 March aimed at educating State Drugs Control department and Health department on drug pricing and various other topics related to the availability and afordability of pharma products.

Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration, Goa, in collaboration with ASSOCHAM and sponsored by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, New Delhi, will organise one day workshop on March 16 in the city. According to a statement here, the workshop will be inaugurated by State Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane in the presence of Chief Secretary of Goa Dharmendra Sharma and Director FDA-Goa and NPPA and ASSOCHAM Officials.

The workshop aimed to familiarize the State Drugs Control department and Health department and other stakeholders (Hospitals, Doctors, Stockiest, Retailers, NGO’s etc) with various provisions of Drugs Price Control Order, 2013 and issues regarding affordability and availability of essential drugs.

The Officials from National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority along with guest speakers S W Deshpande, Jt Commissioner, FDA, Maharashtra (Retired), Dr Padmanab Rataboli, HOD, Pharmacology, GMC, and Raj Vaidya, Community Pharmacist, Hindu Pharmacy, would share their thoughts on various topics relating to availability and affordability of Pharmaceutical Products. The primary objective of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority was to ensure adequate availability of essential medicines to the public at affordable prices, the statement added.