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NPPA directs pharma majors to lower drug prices

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed all pharmaceutical manufacturing companies to follow the ceiling prices notified by the government and make available required stock in the market.

The national drug price regulator has capped the prices of 103 essential drug formulations, including those used for treating HIV/AIDS, bacterial infections, tuberculosis, high blood pressure, epilepsy, Hepatitis C and diabetes, thereby making them cheaper for patients.

“NPPA has fixed ceiling prices of 103 scheduled formulations on the basis of wholesale price index (WPI) for the preceding calendar year 2015, effective from April, 1 2016,”’ the regulator said in its notification.

The NPPA move will help bring down the prices of some key drugs such as Tenofovir, Lamivudine, Raltegravir used for treatment of HIV/AIDS and Sofosbuvir, which is used against Hepatitis C.

A tablet of combination drugs Tenofovir 300mg, Lamivudine 300mg and Efavirenz 600mg will now cost Rs 91.71 as against Rs 94.27 earlier.

Likewise, the ceiling price of a Raltegravir 400 mg is now fixed at Rs139.25 down from Rs143.13 earlier. The price of Hepatitis B drug Sofosbuvir-400mg has been fixed at Rs 619.31 down from Rs 636.56 previously. Cardiovascular disease drug Atorvastatin-40 mg will now be available at Rs17.91 per tablet as against Rs18.41 earlier.

Besides, the NPPA has also fixed the retail price of two formulations –Hyoscine Butylbromide + Paracetamol tablet and Methyldopa tablet, under the Drug (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013.
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