More drugs may see price revisions as raw material costs, expenses rise

After anti coagulant drug Heparin, pharma industry is keen to have at least another 25-30 drugs be considered for an upward price revision as raw material prices and other expenses have shot up in recent months. The include common drugs like paracetamol and some antibiotics and vitamins.

On Wednesday, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, the country's pricing regulator allowed a one time and temporary price increase of 50 per cent till December 31 this year for heparin injectable after hike in input costs and shortage of supplies from China hit the manufacturers. Heparin 5000iu/ml injection roughly costs around Rs 90-100 for a vial.

The industry had made several representations to the pricing regulator after prices of the active pharmaceutical ingredient