Drug Price Control Order 2002 by May

new delhi: the drug price control order, 2002, based on the new drug policy is likely to be finalised by may, a top chemicals and fertiliser ministry official said. "the new dpco can be expected in four months time," vinay kohli, secretary, department of chemicals and petrochemicals, told pti here. he said the department has already secured four months time span from the cabinet. dpco 2002 which replaces dpco 1995 will be drafted by national pharmaceutical pricing authority based on the data of org-marg regarding the sales turnover of drugs and guidelines on price control spelt out in the new policy announced on february 5. the new dpco is expected to bring down the price control from the current level of 67 drugs to about 31 drugs, according to industry sources. when contacted nppa chairman b s baswan said the authority had already started preliminary work on the new order. after the first draft is prepared, the proposal will first be sent to the nodal ministry for vetting and then from there to ministry of legal affairs, he added. however, he said final work would start only after ministry unveils the fine print of the policy.