NPPA fixes prices of 20 drugs, stents made costlier

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has brought 20 more drugs under price control. These include drugs to cure liver diseases, hormone tablets, anti-rabies immunoglobulin, anti-Tuberculosis and blood thinners. The NPPA has revised prices of 26 drugs. Some of these are anti-cancer drugs, anti-inflammatory medicines and anaesthetics. Of these 26 drugs, the NPPA has revised the ceiling prices of 10 formulations after the Department of Pharmace-uticals (DoP) issued review orders after the previous NPPA orders were challenged. After the matter was examined by the DoP, the NPPA was asked to refix the prices of these drugs. These  have been calculated keeping in mind the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) change. Companies are allowed to revise price each year according to WPI movement.

 

Along with this, the NPPA has also announced the new price of the cardiac stents. Drug Eluting Stents will now be priced at Rs 30,180 and Bare Metal Stents at Rs 7,400, only marginally upward for stent makers. This revision comes with the movement in the WPI.