Govt integrates Pharma Jan Samadhan, Pharma Sahi Daam portals for quick medicine price verification
New Delhi, June 25
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has integrated Pharma Jan Samadhan and Pharma Sahi Daam into a single digital portal to give citizens unified access to medicine price information and grievance redressal, an official statement said on Thursday.
It will help citizens to access both the services -- medicine price information and grievance redressal services -- seamlessly through the app and portal, the statement from Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers said.
The integrated portal is operational with immediate effect and public can avail both the services through the unified Pharma Sahi Daam interface. The new unified platform enhances transparency, accountability, public participation, and access to affordable medicines, the statement noted.
The Pharma Sahi Daam platform was developed to provide consumers with instant access to the prices of scheduled and non-scheduled medicines, helping them verify that medicines are being sold within government-approved price limits.
Pharma Jan Samadhan aims to facilitate the reporting and resolution of complaints related to medicine pricing, the ministry said.
While both initiatives were already integrated at the mobile application level, these initiatives previously operated through separate web portals, the statement said.
The ministry said that users can now access both services seamlessly through the unified Pharma Sahi Daam web portal and mobile app, available on Google Play Store.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) was constituted through a Government of India Resolution in 1997 as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
As an independent regulator of pricing of drugs, NPPA holds the responsibility of fixing and revising drug prices as per the provisions of the Drugs Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013, monitoring compliance and availability of drugs and rendering advice on pharmaceutical policies.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is helpful for senior citizens like my mother who often struggle with overpriced medicines. But I hope the app interface is simple and available in regional languages too. Many elderly in villages don't understand English or Hindi well.
Great initiative for transparency, but let's be real—how many common people know about these portals? The government should run TV ads and put posters in primary health centers so that even the poorest can benefit. Awareness is key! 🇮🇳
I appreciate the move, but the NPPA should also focus on controlling the prices of new and expensive drugs, not just scheduled ones. Many cancer patients in India can't afford life-saving medicines even after price regulation. This portal is a step forward, but we need more holistic drug pricing policies.
As someone familiar with pharma regulations, I think this integration is long overdue. The Pharma Jan Samadhan portal for complaints was hardly known to patients. Now with a unified platform, grievance redressal might become more effective. Let's hope the backend team works efficiently to resolve complaints quickly. ⏰
The app is functional but needs offline support for areas with poor internet. Also, pharmacies in small towns often don't follow MRP strictly. The government should conduct surprise checks and fine violators heavily. Only then will this transparency initiative actually help the common man.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.