The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed retail prices for 65 new drug formulations and notified ceiling price fixation of 13 formulations. The regulatory body, under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, also revised the ceiling prices of seven other drugs to include the impact of the 0.00551 per cent increase in drug prices in the National List of Essential Drugs (NLEM), based on the changes in the wholesale price index (WPI) for 2024.
The decision to revise the prices of the formulations was taken during the authority’s 128th meeting on December 12. Prices have been fixed for drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, bacterial infections, and painkillers, whereas drugs with revised ceiling prices include vaccines for rabies, tetanus, and measles, among others, according to multiple notifications from the NPPA.
The revision and fixation of retail and ceiling prices is a routine exercise undertaken by the NPPA. The drug pricing regulator is vested with the responsibility of fixing and revising the prices of pharmaceutical products, enforcing provisions of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), and monitoring the prices of both controlled and decontrolled drugs.
In a recent government notification, retail prices of essential fixed combination drugs (FDCs) such as a combination of atorvastatin and ezetimibe tablets, used to treat high cholesterol, by reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride levels have been fixed. FDCs are drugs that contain a combination of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in a single form, usually manufactured and distributed in a fixed ratio.
Other FDCs included in the list include the combinations of dispersible amoxycillin and potassium clavulanate used to treat bacterial infections such as sinusitis, and gliclazide and metformin hydrochloride, which is used to treat Type 2 diabetes. The list also includes dietary supplements such as oral cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) tablets and antifungal itraconazole capsules.
The 20 drugs whose ceiling prices have been revised include 13 new drugs such as injectable immunoglobins for rabies, tetanus, measles, and BCG, whereas prices of the other seven drugs have been revised after review order to include WPI rate impact.
This list of seven essential formulations includes injectable version of thiamine (Vitamin B1), versions of lignocaine (local anesthetic), tablets for ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), and tablet and liquid versions of clarithromycin (antibiotic).
The government notification mentioned that manufacturers of scheduled formulations selling its branded, generic, or both versions at a price higher than the ceiling price (plus Goods and Services Tax as applicable), shall revise the prices of all such formulations downward not exceeding the ceiling price specified.
