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The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has fixed the prices of 45 drug formulations, including three insulin formulations.
“NPPA has fixed/revised ceiling prices of 45 scheduled formulations of Schedule-I under Drugs (Price Control) Amendment Order, 2016, and retail price of 12 formulations under DPCO, 2013,” its notification said.
The drugs, some of whose prices are estimated to drop 10-15 per cent, are used to treat a broad spectrum of diseases, including cancer (methotrexate), rheumatoid arthritis (leflunomide), malaria (quinine), and anti-fungals (griseofulvin).
The notification directed all manufacturers to comply with the ceiling prices of the medicines and reduce prices, if the retail prices were higher than the revised amount, and maintain the prices, if they are lower than the set standard.
“The manufacturers not complying with the ceiling price and notes specified hereinabove shall be liable to deposit the overcharged amount along with interest thereon under the provisions of the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013, read with Essential Commodities Act, 1955,” the notification said.
The NPPA periodically revises prices of essential medicines under the Drug (Pricing Control) Order (DPCO) that has about 650 formulations under it. These prices can be increased by companies by a maximum of 10 per cent depending on inflation.
In a separate notification, the NPPA also announced revision of “32 scheduled formulations packs of intravenous (IV) fluids.”
The revision in IV fluids prices comes in the wake of manufacturers expressing concerns around the ceiling prices fixed earlier. “The manufacturers have made representations about the existing unit volume based pricing system because of which manufacturing of aforesaid formulations in all kind of packaging for pack sizes has become non-remunerative affecting the availability, which may become detrimental to the public interest,” the notification said.
Taking this into consideration, NPPA has now re-categorised IV fluids and re-fixed their ceiling prices on the basis of the modified categories of glass, non-glass and non-glass with special features. “For other special features claimed or any other pack size manufactured, the manufacturer shall approach the NPPA for specific price approval for its formulations,” the notification added.
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