NPPA fixes prices of 30 formulation packs

Drug price regulator NPPA has fixed prices of 30 formulation packs, including drugs used to treat various diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes, asthma and antibiotics.
In a statement, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) said it "has fixed/revised the prices in respect of 30 formulation packs... Under DPCO, 2013".
As per the notification, prices of formulations, including rifampicin, ibuprofen, salbutamol sulphate, glimepiride+ metformin, have been fixed.
NPPA has already fixed the ceiling prices in respect of 521 formulations out of 680 till date which comes under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
At present, the government caps prices of essential drugs based on the simple average of all medicines in a particular therapeutic segment with sales of more than 1 per cent.

Besides, the government regulates prices of all other medicines and companies are allowed to hike prices of such drugs by only up to 10 per cent in a year.
The government had notified DPCO, 2013, which covers 680 formulations, with effect from May 15, 2014, replacing the 1995 order that regulated prices of only 74 bulk drugs.
Established in 1997, NPPA has been entrusted with the task of fixation/revision of prices of pharmaceutical products (bulk drugs and formulations), enforcement of provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order and monitoring of prices of controlled and decontrolled drugs in the country.