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NPPA expands price control to 23 additional drugs
The move will make drugs cheaper for patients. Manufacturers not complying with the ceiling price will have to deposit the overcharged amount with the government.
The drug price regulator—National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)—has fixed the ceiling price of 18 formulations, and retail price of 23 new drugs by bringing them under price control. These drugs are largely used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, pain management, tuberculosis (TB), type 2 diabetes, respiratory illnesses and allergies.
With these latest directions, all drug manufacturers have been asked to revise the prices of these formulations downward.
The move will make drugs cheaper for patients. Manufacturers not complying with the ceiling price will have to deposit the overcharged amount with the government.
According to the latest government notification, NPPA has fixed the ceiling price of Gliclazide ER and Metformin used for diabetes control has been at ₹10.30, while Amoxycillin and Potassium Clavulanate Oral Suspension IP price has been fixed at ₹4.05. Similarly, the price of Aceclofenac + Paracetamol + Serratiopeptidase Tablet commonly used for pain management is fixed at ₹5.23. The ceiling prices of drugs like Diclofenac Diethylamine, Methyl Salicylate, and Formoterol Fumarate have also been capped.
Additonally, new drug formulations like Thiopentone’s ceiling price has been fixed at ₹55.32 for a 1gm vial which is commonly used as anesthesia. Besides this, the cost of Warfarin 5mg used to treat blood clots has been fixed at ₹2.40, and Clofazimine 100mg used to treat infectious diseases, has been fixed at ₹3.98.
“All manufacturers of scheduled formulation, selling the branded or generic or both the versions of scheduled formulations at a price higher than the ceiling price shall revise the prices of all such formulations downward not exceeding the ceiling price plus goods and services tax as applicable if any,” said the government notification.
Queries sent to the department of pharmaceuticals did not elicit any response.
Furthermore, it has been made mandatory for drug makers to issue a price list of drugs to the regulator through Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System (IPDMS) and submit a copy to state drug controller and dealers.
Pharmaceutical makers of drug formulations having MRP lower than the ceiling price shall continue to maintain the existing MRP.
In addition to this, every retailer and dealer are required display the price list at his business site in a manner to be easily accessible to any person wishing to consult the same.
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First Published:9 Jun 2023, 10:24 PM IST
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