Patients Rejoice: Prices of 35 Essential Medicines Rolled Back, Healthcare Made Affordable

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a move to make medicines more affordable for patients, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has reduced the retail prices of 35 essential medicines sold by major pharmaceutical companies.

These low-cost formulas now cover a wide range of drugs, including cardiovascular, antibiotic, anti-diabetic, and psychiatric medications.

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has notified this order based on the price regulation by NPPA.

The price cut, which applies to all medicines, is expected to provide relief to consumers, especially patients suffering from chronic diseases.

The major formulations under price control order include aceclofenac, paracetamol and trypsin chymotrypsin, fixed dose combinations of amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate, atorvastatin combinations and new oral antidiabetic combinations like empagliflozin, sitagliptin and metformin.

The price of an Aceclofenac-Paracetamol-Trypsin Chymotrypsin tablet manufactured by Akms Drugs & Pharmaceuticals and marketed by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories has now been fixed at Rs 13, while the same medicine marketed by Cadila Pharmaceuticals is now priced at Rs 15.01.

Similarly, the price of a tablet containing Atorvastatin 40 mg and Clopidogrel 75 mg, widely used for cardiac diseases, has been fixed at Rs 25.61.

Oral Suspension Cefixime and Paracetamol Combination for Paediatric Use has also been included, along with critical drugs like Cholecalciferol Drops for Vitamin D supplementation and Diclofenac Injection, priced at Rs 31.77 per ml.

The official order states that retailers and dealers will have to prominently display these updated price lists in their premises.

Non-adherence to notified prices may attract penal provisions under DPCO, 2013 and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, including recovery of the excess amount charged along with interest.

NPPA has clarified that the prices fixed do not include Goods and Services Tax (GST), which may be added as and when applicable.

Manufacturers are required to comply with all statutory requirements, issue updated price lists in Form V through the Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System and inform the NPPA and State Drug Controllers.

Any prior price orders issued for specified formulations and manufacturers have been cancelled by this latest notification.