The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has declared retail prices for 65 new drug formulations and changed the ceiling prices for 20 formulations. The decisions are aimed at regulating the price of drugs and reducing their cost for patients.

Some Key Highlights of the NPPA's Decision:Set Retail Prices for 65 Drugs:

• The drugs include, on the list, products under Type 2 diabetes mellitus, cholesterol-low-ing agents, bacterial infections and a pain reliever.

• Illustrative examples include atorvastatin with ezetimibe, an FDC for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood, while other examples include gliclazide with metformin hydrochloride to tackle Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Revised ceiling price for 20 Drugs:

• Vaccines for rabies and tetanus, BCG, and measles,

• index of WPI of 0.00551 %increase for 2024 were taken into consideration.

• Covers essential formulations like injectable thiamine (Vitamin B1), lignocaine (local anesthetic), ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), and clarithromycin (antibiotic).

Regulation on Pricing Compliance:
Manufacturers selling drugs above the ceiling price, inclusive of GST, must lower prices to comply with NPPA’s limits.

Routine Review Under DPCO:

• The NPPA's revision and fixation of prices are routine exercises under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO).

• The NPPA ensures affordability while monitoring both controlled and decontrolled drugs.

Dietary Supplements Included:

• The notice also includes the price for oral cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) tablets and itraconazole capsules (antifungal medication).

• This is also the development of the drug pricing control by the government while the accessibility of necessary drugs across India is improved.