Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 38/24

MSPMRU HOSTS SEMINAR ON MEDICINAL PRICE REGULATION

The Meghalaya State Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (MSPMRU) successfully conducted its inaugural one-day seminar on the regulation of medicine prices in collaboration with the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). The event, held at Chengkompara, Ampati on Wednesday, focused on creating awareness about the price monitoring of pharmaceutical products for pharmacists and shop owners in the retail and wholesale sector of South West Garo Hills District.

The distinguished panel of attendees included YW Momin, ADC, South West Garo Hills, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, alongside Dr. D Momin, Medical Superintendent of South West Garo Hills, Dr. Suparna Hajong, Sub-divisional Medical Officer, Dr. John R R Marak, Grade I Senior Specialist of Tura Civil Hospital, E Marak, SDSEO, South West Garo Hills, ITD Toi, Assistant Drugs Controller, and Member Secretary of MSPMRU, along with the dedicated staff of MSPMRU, Inspector of Drugs, South West Garo Hills, and licensees and Pharmacists/shop owners from the retail and wholesale establishments of South West Garo Hills district.

Y W Momin, ADC, South West Garo Hills as Chief Guest, expressed gratitude towards the government for establishing MSPMRU, emphasizing its pro-people approach to making medicines more affordable and accessible. She conveyed optimism that this initiative would address challenges faced by citizens in the district. She urged participants to diligently follow guidelines issued by relevant authorities and assured them that any challenges encountered during implementation would be addressed positively by concerned officers.

The NPPA, instituted on 29th August 1997, functions as an independent regulator under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It plays a crucial role in ensuring the availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices. The 'Pharma Sahi Daam' and 'Pharma Jan Samadhan' platforms are administered by NPPA for information on medicine prices and registering public grievances. The Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0 (IPDMS) is being implemented for online information collection from pharmaceutical manufacturers.

As part of its expansion strategy, NPPA is establishing Price Monitoring and Research Units (PMRUs) at state levels to enhance outreach. PMRUs collaborate with NPPA to monitor drug prices, ensure drug availability, and raise consumer awareness, providing technical assistance at grassroots levels. Under the Central Sector Scheme named Consumer Awareness, Publicity, and Price Monitoring (CAPPM), PMRUs have been set up in 25 states/Union Territories.

The MSPMRU, formed and registered in February 2023, has a primary function to monitor drug prices, ensure the availability of critical drugs, raise consumer awareness, and offer technical assistance to NPPA and State Drugs Control. The project aims to disseminate information about ceiling prices, permissible price increases, availability of medicines at reasonable prices, promotion of generic medicines, precautions while purchasing medicines, prescription of medicines by generic names, price control, monitoring, and enforcement activities of NPPA, and lodging complaints for any violation or unethical practices in the Pharma sector.

Notably, medicines and devices listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) will be sold at prices set by NPPA, with a maximum annual price hike of 10 percent for those in the non-scheduled list. The NLEM list, last introduced in 2015, was due for revision every three years, with a request for an extension in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Press Release No. 39/24

NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY MONTH 2024 OBSERVED IN SHILLONG

The District Transport Officer East Khasi Hills District in collaboration with the District Administration and Police Department today concluded the observation of Nation Road Safety Month 2024 at the Parking Lot Opposite SBI Main Branch, Shillong.

Addressing the gathering, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Shri K. Prasad said to create awareness about the safety of the drivers and the users, the National Road Safety Month is observed across India.

He also said that every year there are thousands of lives lost by accident and the reason is due to rash driving, over speeding and not respecting others' rights.

He also informed that last year the Meghalaya Police have registered 46 cases out of which 40 deaths were reported and 15 percent of them sustained injuries. Whereas in the month of January 2024 they have registered 6 cases out of which 6 were reported death and 13 grievous injuries.

Prasad urged the drivers to drive cautiously and not to overtake in the busy roads of Shillong. The driver carries lots of responsibilities not only for his own life but others too, they should understand that they should drive cautiously every single time they are behind the wheel.

The Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills District Smti. R.M Kurbah while addressing the drivers on the National Road Safety Month said the celebration is very important since we are talking about Life, life is precious and we should not play with it.

She also said it is very important to organise such programs very often, to conduct this awareness,  since most of us know only about our rights but never give importance to the fundamental duties. Kurbah urged the parents to have responsibilities and give some tips to their children when to use and when not to use, since some times when a child is hit or an adult the whole responsibility is always to the driver.

Press Release No. 40/24

MONOLITH RESTAURANT AT MAWMLUH AND LAITIAM RIVER SIDE ECO TOURISM HUB INAUGURATED

The Monolith Restaurant at Mawmluh was inaugurated today by Shri Cyril V. Darlong Diengdoh, Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, and earlier on the day, the Laitiam River Side Eco Tourism Hub at Laitiam was inaugurated by Smti I. Rynjah, Director of Soil and Water Conservation, Government of Meghalaya. Both these projects under Sohra Civil Sub Division were implemented by the Soil and Water Conservation Department in collaboration with the Meghalayan Age Limited.

It may be mentioned that the Soil and Water Conservation Department under the Sohra Ecological Restoration Project implemented during 2010-2011 to 2015-2016 has taken up some activities and in continuation Natural Resource Improvement Intervention Project has cropped up as a scheme for the promotion of eco-tourism in the areas.

In his speech, Shri Diengdoh said that the tourism sector is a job multiplier that can generate employment for the local people and uplift the rural economy. He also lauded the leaders of Mawmluh village and Mawmluh Tourism & Allied Activities Co-operative Society (MTAACS) for their cooperation in working together with the Soil and Water Conservation Department and the Monolith Restaurant stand as a testimony.  He hoped that this restaurant would provide authentic local experiences to the tourists from outside the state who visited Sohra and Mawmluh areas.

The project at Mawmluh village started during the month of April 2022 and completed during the month of September 2023. The project includes site preparation & development and construction of a restaurant, basement staff quarter etc., at a total cost of rupees One crore thirty-nine lakh.

The development of the Laitiam River Side Eco Tourism Hub at Laitiam village started during the month of June 2022 and completed during the month of December 2023. The construction includes four cottages, one open terrace restaurant, landscaping etc., constructed at a total cost of One crore fifty-one lakh.