NEW DELHI: In a bid to put a check on decontrolled drugs, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) fixed the retail price of 84 essential drug formulations. It includes type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, headache, cholesterol and widely used painkillers.
As per the notification, a single tablet of Voglibose and (SR) Metformin Hydrochloride will cost Rs 10.47, excluding GST. The price of Paracetamol and Caffeine has been fixed at Rs 2.88 per tablet. Besides, the price of one Rosuvastatin Aspirin and Clopidogrel capsule will now be charged Rs 13.91.
In an exercise of the powers conferred by the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, the NPPA has fixed the retail prices of the medications, the regulator said in a notification.
“… National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority hereby fixes, the price as specified in column (6) of the table herein below as the retail price, exclusive of Goods and Services Tax, if any, in relation to the formulation specified in the corresponding entry in column (2) of the said Table with the strength, unit and name of manufacturer & marketing company, as specified,” NPPA notification reads.
The prices are applicable only to the individual manufacturer or marketer mentioned in the notification. The drugmakers include Sun Pharma, Alkem, Zydus Healthcare, Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Glenmark Pharmaceutical, Torrent, Hetero, Micro Labs, and others.
Earlier in April, NPPA had also announced the price hike of 800 essential drugs and medicines by 10.7 per cent. The drugs which were included in the National Essential List of Medicine (NELM) such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, ear-nose and throat medicines, antiseptics, painkillers, gastrointestinal medicines and antifungal medicines were among those who saw a sharp increase in their prices.
The NPPA is mandated to fix or revise the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations. It is also mandated to enforce the prices and availability of medicines in the country. It also monitors the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.
The regulator implements and enforces the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order. It is also entrusted with the task of recovering amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the controlled drugs.