Govt cuts prices of 51 medicines

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the retail prices of 51 medicines which include those used for treating heart ailments, blood pressure  and diabetes.

In a notification dated June 28, NPPA has fixed the price of Linagliptin and metformin combination used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes at Rs 8.9 per 500 mg tablet. For the 100 mg tablet the price is around Rs 9.6 per tablet with minor variations among manufacturers such as Torrent Pharma and Unison Pharma.

Prices for Dabigatran formulation used to treat and prevent blood clots has been fixed at Rs 35.6 per 150-gram capsule.

Paroxetine and Clonazepam used for the treatment of depression will be priced at Rs 15.8 per capsule.

The detailed notification on the NPPA website states that these are the maximum retail prices for the drugs and the manufacturer may add Goods and Services Tax only if they have paid actually or it is payable to the Government on the retail price mentioned in column (6) of the table.

It also states that “every retailer and dealer shall display price list and the supplementary price list, if any, as furnished by the manufacturer, on a conspicuous part of the premises where he carries on business in a manner so as to be easily accessible to any person wishing to consult the same.”