The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the retail prices of 30 drug formulations, including medicines used for diabetes, heart disease, allergies, vitamin deficiencies and organ transplant care, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013.
The latest notification issued by the Department of Pharmaceuticals covers a range of formulations classified as "new drugs". The revised prices will apply to the manufacturers and marketing companies specified in the order. The NPPA said the notified rates are exclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST), which can be added only if it has actually been paid or is payable.
Among the medicines included in the latest price fixation order is Vitamin D3 Oral Solution containing Cholecalciferol 60,000 IU (Nano Droplet), which has been priced at Rs 14.91 per ml. The authority has also fixed prices for several calcium and vitamin supplements commonly prescribed for bone health, nutritional deficiencies and neurological disorders.
Which medicines are covered under the latest NPPA order?
The notification includes several medicines used to treat chronic conditions. Atorvastatin and Fenofibrate tablets, prescribed for cholesterol and lipid management, have been priced at Rs 18.46 per tablet. Bilastine and Montelukast tablets used for allergy treatment have been fixed at Rs 21.22 per tablet.
For patients with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, Bisoprolol Fumarate and Amlodipine tablets have been priced at Rs 9.40 per tablet.
In the diabetes segment, the NPPA fixed the retail price of Empagliflozin, Sitagliptin and Metformin Extended Release tablets at Rs 14.88 per tablet. Another anti-diabetic combination containing Sitagliptin, Glimepiride and Metformin has been priced at Rs 11.91 per tablet.
The authority has also notified the retail price of Tacrolimus Prolonged Release Capsules 3 mg, an immunosuppressant medicine widely used by organ transplant patients, at Rs 127 per capsule.
What action will be taken against overcharging?
According to the NPPA, manufacturers must calculate pack prices based on the approved per-unit retail prices and upload updated price lists through the Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System (IPDMS). Retailers and dealers have been directed to prominently display the revised price lists at their business premises.
The regulator warned that any manufacturer or marketer charging more than the approved retail price would be liable to deposit the overcharged amount along with applicable interest under the provisions of the DPCO, 2013, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
The latest notification supersedes all previous price orders issued for the specified formulations, strengths and companies covered under the new order.
With ANI inputs