Price cap on cancer, diabetes, BP drugs 56 key medicines cheaper by 25%

New Delhi, June 6

Smaller volume packs of IV fluid to cost more

• The rug price regulator has capped the prices of 56 medicines used in treatment of cancer, diabetes, bacterial infections and blood pressure
• The prices of some of smaller volume packs of commonly used intravenous fluid such as glucose and sodium chloride injections have, however, been increased

Prices of 56 important medicines used in treatment of cancer, diabetes, bacterial infections and blood pressure have been capped by the government thereby reducing the cost by an average of around 25 per cent.

Drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), however, has also increased prices of some of the smaller volume packs of commonly used intravenous fluid such as glucose and sodium chloride injections.

Products of major pharmaceuticals firms, including Abbott Healthcare, Cipla, Lupin, Alembic, Alkem Laboratories, Novartis, Biocon, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Hetero Healthcare and erstwhile Ranbaxy (now Sun Pharmaceutical Industries) will be affected by the new price cap announced by NPPA.

“The prices of drugs have been reduced on an average of 25 per cent. In some cases the reduction is 10 to 15 per cent, while for others it is up to 45 to 50 per cent also,” said NPPA chairman Bhupendra Singh.

He further said out of these, for the 31 scheduled formulations packs of IV fluids, NPPA has increased prices in case of small volume packs, while reducing it for large volume packs.

NPPA, in its notifications for the fixed/revised ceiling prices, said: “The manufacturers not complying with the ceiling price and notes specified herein-above shall be liable to deposit the overcharged amount along with interest thereon...”— PTI