Covers calcium and vitamin supplements as well
NEW DELHI: Drugs used for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, infections and women’s health are among the 30 drug combinations for which the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed retail prices, a move that could significantly reduce treatment costs for patients dependent on long-term drugs.The latest notification covers several commonly prescribed medicines for chronic diseases affecting millions of Indians, many of which require long-term or lifelong treatment.The compositions include antidiabetic formulations containing empagliflozin, sitagliptin, metformin, teneligliptin and dapagliflozin; Heart medications containing atorvastatin, telmisartan, cilnidipine and metoprolol. Antibiotics for infection. Pain relief medications; vitamin supplements; And medications used for women’s health conditions.
The notification specifies the maximum retail price at which such formulations can be sold, excluding GST, and manufacturers will not be allowed to market them above the notified prices.The main formulations include empagliflozin-sitagliptin-metformin tablets at Rs 14.88 per tablet, sitagliptin-glimepiride-metformin tablets at Rs 11.91 per tablet, teneligliptin-dapagliflozin tablets at Rs 10.17 per tablet, and atorvastatin-fenofibrate tablets at Rs 18.46 per tablet.
Tacrolimus capsules used by organ transplant patients have been priced at Rs 127 per capsule.The list also includes oral vitamin D3 solutions, calcium and multivitamin supplements, the antibiotic cefpodoxime-clavulanate suspensions for children, and norethisterone acetate tablets for women’s health.Industry representatives said that the published prices of many commonly used drugs are lower than prevailing market prices.
However, market prices may vary depending on brands and strengths. Rajeev Singhal, secretary general of the All India Organization of Chemists and Pharmaceuticals, welcomed the move and said consumers are likely to benefit from the revised prices within 60 to 90 days, once existing stocks in the supply chain are cleared and the revised MRP stocks reach the market.Health experts point out that medicines account for a large share of home healthcare spending in India, especially for patients suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Access to affordable treatment is crucial to reducing the financial burden on families and improving adherence to long-term treatment.
