Cipla tops NPPA's overpricing list, Ranbaxy second

Leading pharmaceutical firms such as Cipla, Ranbaxy, Pfizer and Dr Reddy's were among the companies pulled up by the drug price regulator National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) for overcharging.

According to the information available on the NPPA website, as on March 31, the total estimated overcharged amount, including interest, by various pharmaceutical firms since the inception of the NPPA in 1997 stood at a whopping Rs 2,150.38 crore. But, so far, the authority could recover a paltry Rs 191.45 crore of this and is litigating in various courts to recover the rest of the sum.

According to the authority, the country's top two companies, Cipla and Ranbaxy, accounted for over 50 per cent of the total overcharged amount. While Cipla's overcharged amount stood at Rs 1,382 crore, that of Ranbaxy's was Rs 136.2 crore during the period.

Though the NPPA has been in litigation with Cipla over the issue, it could not recover any amount from the Mumbai-based drugmaker. The regulator has recovered around Rs 30 crore from Delhi-based Ranbaxy.