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 The Centre has appointed P Krishnamurthy IAS as the Chairperson of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP). The position was held by the Secretary of DoP for a short term, after the previous Chairperson, Kamlesh Kumar Pant, was relieved from the position with effect from August 14, 2024.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Krishnamurthy as the chairperson of the drug pricing authority in the rank and pay of additional secretary, said the Secretariat of the Committee in an announcement on October 26, 2024.
Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Krishnamurthy is a 1997 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who was previously holding the position of Chief Electoral Officer with the Election Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), New Delhi from June, 2022 to October 26, 2024.
He was also the principal secretary to the government in the personnel and general administration from March 2017 to August, 2023, and the private secretary to the minister of defence from February 1, 2015 to March, 2017.
Prior to joining in Delhi, he also had his stint in Goa and Mizoram.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority was set up as an attached office of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (now Department of Pharmaceuticals since July, 2008) on 29th August 1997.
It has been entrusted with functions including to implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), in accordance with the powers delegated to it.To undertake and/or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/formulations; to monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps; to collect/maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc. for bulk drugs and formulations; and to deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority.
The Authority is also responsible to render advice to the Central Government on changes/revisions in the drug policy and to render assistance to the Central Government in the parliamentary matters relating to the drug pricing.
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