Government said on Friday it has demanded Rs 1,626.51 crore (Rs 16.26 billion) from pharmaceutical companies in 585 cases for overcharging medicine prices in the last 11 years.
"Since the inception of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority in August 1997, it has raised a total demand of Rs 1,626.51 crore till October 15 this year, for recovery towards overcharged amount in 585 cases," Minister of State in the Ministry for Chemical and Fertilisers B K Handique informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
Under the provisions of Drug Price Control Order 1995, NPPA has been able to recover Rs 131.71 crore (Rs 1.31 billion) so far from defaulting companies and in some cases the recovery is affected due to orders from the High Courts and Supreme Court, he said.