India's National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has announced a 50 per cent increase in the ceiling prices of 11 essential drug formulations. This decision, made during a recent meeting, aims to ensure that crucial treatments for conditions such as asthma, glaucoma, thalassemia, tuberculosis, and mental health disorders remain accessible to the public.
The NPPA invoked Paragraph 19 of the Drugs Prices Control Order, which grants it the authority to adjust drug prices under specific circumstances. This increase comes in response to requests from manufacturers who cited the unviability of supplying some of these formulations amid rising input costs. The drugs affected by the price revision include benzylpenicillin (1 million IU injection), atropine injection (0.6 mg/ml), streptomycin powder for injection (750 mg and 1000 mg), salbutamol tablets (2 mg and 4 mg), pilocarpine (2 per cent drops), cefadroxil tablets (500 mg), desferrioxamine for injection (500 mg), and lithium tablets (300 mg).
The NPPA underscored the need to balance affordability with the availability of these essential drugs. "Access cannot be jeopardised," stated a senior government official to a media house, emphasising the importance of maintaining a stable supply of crucial medications to address public health needs. The authority has faced increasing applications from manufacturers requesting higher ceiling prices, reflecting the impact of rising production costs and changes in exchange rates on the pharmaceutical industry.
This marks a continued trend for the NPPA, which has previously utilized its extraordinary powers under Paragraph 19, raising prices by 50 per cent for 21 formulations in 2019 and for nine in 2021. With only one remaining manufacturer willing to produce benzylpenicillin, the NPPA’s decision is seen as vital for safeguarding public health in India, ensuring that these essential drugs remain available in the market.
