Drug majors have their way, 509 medicines now dearer
10 April 2015 5:25 AM IST
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has issued a notification regarding the price hike in line with the wholesale price index of 2014 under the Drug Price Control Order, 2013. The prices of all essential drugs would be revised from April 1.
“As confirmed by the economic adviser (Ministry of Commerce and Industries), the annual increase in the wholesale price index (WPI) works out at 3.84 per cent during calendar year 2014 over the corresponding period in 2013,” NPPA said in a notification.
The 509 medicines that have become costlier, include Alpha Interferon injection used to treat hepatitis B and C as well as certain types of cancer, Carboplatin injection used for cancer treatment, Fluconazole capsules indicated for fungal infections, among others.
One pack of Alpha Interferon injection will now cost Rs 838.80 against Rs 759.70, while Carboplatin injection of 450 mg/vial will cost Rs 2,677.42 instead of Rs 2,424.93. Also, the prices of anti-tetanus drugs have been increased by Rs 230 each pack as the new rate for anti-D immunoglobin (human injection) will now be available at Rs 2,439.89 against Rs 2,209.80.
Even the prices of condoms, which are also part of the list of essential medicines, have also gone up. After price revision, a single condom will now cost Rs 8.35 against Rs 6.56. Besides, antibiotics have become costlier. One capsule of Amoxicillin (250mg) will cost Rs 3.04 against the existing Rs 2.76.
At present, the government caps prices of 348 essential medicines 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 the prices of such drugs by only up to 10% in a year.
“As confirmed by the economic adviser (Ministry of Commerce and Industries), the annual increase in the wholesale price index (WPI) works out at 3.84 per cent during calendar year 2014 over the corresponding period in 2013,” NPPA said in a notification.
The 509 medicines that have become costlier, include Alpha Interferon injection used to treat hepatitis B and C as well as certain types of cancer, Carboplatin injection used for cancer treatment, Fluconazole capsules indicated for fungal infections, among others.
One pack of Alpha Interferon injection will now cost Rs 838.80 against Rs 759.70, while Carboplatin injection of 450 mg/vial will cost Rs 2,677.42 instead of Rs 2,424.93. Also, the prices of anti-tetanus drugs have been increased by Rs 230 each pack as the new rate for anti-D immunoglobin (human injection) will now be available at Rs 2,439.89 against Rs 2,209.80.
Even the prices of condoms, which are also part of the list of essential medicines, have also gone up. After price revision, a single condom will now cost Rs 8.35 against Rs 6.56. Besides, antibiotics have become costlier. One capsule of Amoxicillin (250mg) will cost Rs 3.04 against the existing Rs 2.76.
At present, the government caps prices of 348 essential medicines 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 the prices of such drugs by only up to 10% in a year.
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