Prices of asthma, tuberculosis, mental health medicines increased by 50%
The Drug Pricing Authority of India has increased the prices of medicines for conditions like asthma, tuberculosis and mental health.
The Drug Pricing Authority of India has increased the prices of some essential medicines by 50%. These drugs, most of which are low-cost, are important for treating conditions such as asthma, glaucoma, thalassemia, tuberculosis and mental health disorders.
The change came as pharmaceutical companies were asking the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to allow price increases for certain drugs.
They explained that the cost of key ingredients, production and currency exchange rates have increased, making it difficult for them to continue producing and selling these medicines at the current prices.
Some companies have also requested to stop manufacturing certain drugs as their production is no longer profitable.
In keeping with the mandate of the NPPA to regulate the prices of essential medicines to meet the public health needs of the country, in order to prevent shortages that are economically unviable for manufacturers, the Drug (Price Control) ) Paragraph 19 of the Order (DPCO), 2013 promulgated. To revise the maximum prices of 11 scheduled formulations of eight essential medicines on October 8.
Maximum price is the mandatory maximum amount a seller is allowed to charge for a product or service.
50% The price increase was approved “in the broader public interest to ensure the continued availability of these drugs,” the agency said.
Medicines affected by the price revision include:
- Benzyl Penicillin 10 Lakh IU Injection (used to treat various bacterial infections)
- Atropine Injection 06.mg/ml (to treat bradycardia – slow heart rate)
- Streptomycin Powder for Injection 750 mg and 1000 mg (to treat tuberculosis and other bacterial infections)
- Salbutamol tablets 2 mg and 4 mg and respirator solution 5 mg/ml (for treating asthma and other respiratory diseases)
- Pilocarpine 2% drops (used to treat glaucoma)
- Cefadroxil tablets 500 mg (to treat certain bacterial infections)
- Desferrioxamine 500 mg for injection (for the treatment of anemia and thalassemia)
- Lithium tablets 300 mg (used in mental health treatment)
These drugs are widely used as first-line treatments and are important for the management of various health conditions.
This is the third time the NPPA has used its extraordinary powers under the DPCO, with similar actions in 2019 and 2021 increasing the prices of 21 and 9 formulations by 50%.
