NPPA revises ceiling prices of these 8 Essential Drugs

Last Updated on October 14, 2024 by The Health Master

Essential Drugs

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has taken a significant step to safeguard the availability of essential drugs at affordable prices.

In a recent move, the NPPA has revised the ceiling prices of eight scheduled drugs, primarily used in first-line treatments for various public health programs across India.

This decision comes in response to rising production costs and the growing need to balance affordability with access to essential drugs.

NPPA’s Commitment to Affordable Healthcare

The NPPA, entrusted with the responsibility of regulating drug prices, works tirelessly to prevent situations where critical drugs become inaccessible due to high costs or unavailability.

By revising ceiling prices, the NPPA aims to ensure that these essential drugs remain within reach of the public, especially for those suffering from diseases that affect large segments of the population.

Rising Production Costs and Supply Concerns

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have been facing increasing pressure due to rising production costs, including the cost of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), higher manufacturing expenses, and fluctuating exchange rates.

These factors have made it challenging for companies to sustain the production and marketing of certain drugs.

In some cases, manufacturers have even sought to discontinue specific formulations, posing a threat to the supply of essential treatments.

NPPA Invokes Extraordinary Powers

To address these challenges and ensure the continued availability of essential drugs, the NPPA invoked its extraordinary powers under Para 19 of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), 2013.

The Authority approved a 50 percent increase in the ceiling prices of 11 scheduled formulations across eight drugs.

These drugs are crucial for treating conditions such as asthma, glaucoma, thalassemia, tuberculosis, and mental health disorders.

List of Drugs with Revised Ceiling Prices

• Benzyl Penicillin 10 lakh IU injection
• Atropine injection 0.6 mg/ml
• Streptomycin powder for injection 750 mg and 1000 mg
• Salbutamol tablet 2 mg and 4 mg and respirator solution 5 mg/ml
• Pilocarpine 2% drops
• Cefadroxil tablet 500 mg
• Desferrioxamine 500 mg for injection
• Lithium tablets 300 mg

NPPA’s Previous Interventions

This is not the first time the NPPA has utilized its extraordinary powers to adjust prices in the public interest.

In 2019 and 2021, the Authority similarly increased the prices of 21 and 9 formulations, respectively, by 50 percent.

These interventions aimed to prevent essential drugs from disappearing from the market due to unsustainable pricing pressures.

Balancing Affordability and Availability

The NPPA’s decision to revise ceiling prices underscores the importance of keeping essential drugs accessible without burdening the healthcare system with unaffordable costs.

This move ensures that life-saving treatments remain available for public use while addressing the financial sustainability of drug manufacturers.

The NPPA’s proactive approach highlights the delicate balance between affordability and availability, which is critical to India’s public health ecosystem.

Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from the source mentioned below. Our team utilized an AI language model to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.

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