Union Government brought 52 new drugs under NPPA control

Union Government brought 52 new drugs under National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) control to keep check on prices of essential medicines. The decision was notified by NPPA on 11 December 2014.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) extended the price control mechanism on 52 drugs which includes some commonly used painkillers and antibiotics as well as medicines used to treat cancer and skin disorders.

The medicine include such as antibiotic Ciprofloxacin, BCG vaccine and anti-diabetic Metformin, Paracetamol, Glucose, Amoxycilline, Diazepam, Codeine Phosphate,  Losartan and Diclofenac.

These new drugs join a list of nearly 400 essential treatments which is more than 450 drugs that involve NPPA ceiling and retail prices for these medicines.

The price caps on drugs only to specific companies include
• Lupin Limited of India
• Cadila Healthcare Company of India
• Merck Company, Indian arm of Merck KGaA of Germany Company

Earlier in September 2014, the NPPA had fixed the prices of 36 drugs that include those to treat infections and diabetes.

About National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority

The NPPA was established under the Drugs Prices Control Order (DPCO).

Union Government established NPPA to fix or revise the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in India.

Comment:
The decision of ranging price cut will hit both domestic and foreign drugmakers and it was opposed by industries commenting that drug prices in India was already among the lowest in the world.