The country’s top drug regulator, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the retail price of 51 formulations, including pain killers, pulmonary drugs, and those used to treat high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and bacterial infections. Fixing the retail price of these daily used drugs particularly diabetes will come as a huge relief to the patients in the sector.
An official from the NPPA said that the decision was taken at the 116th Authority meeting held on September 6 where the authority deliberated on the new drug applications for price fixation under various clauses of drugs prices control order, 2013.
These include Synokem pharmaceutical/Torrent Pharmaceutical's fixed dose combination Rosuvastatin plus Clopidogrel Capsules, Daiwik Pharmasphere/ Aristo Pharmaceuticals' Diclofenac Diethylamine, Methyl Salicylate and Menthol Gel, Exemed Pharmaceuticals/Abbott Healthcare's Linagliptin and Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets, Sai Primus Life Biotech/Primus Remedies' Linagliptin plus Metformin Hydrochloride Tablet.
The list further includes, Skymap Pharmaceuticals' Linagliptin plus Metformin Hydrochloride Tablet, Skymap Pharmaceuticals/ Glensmith Labs' Linagliptin plus Metformin Hydrochloride Tablet, Lucent Biotech/Torrent Pharmaceuticals Pantoprazole Sodium (EC) and Levosulpiride (SR) Capsules.
The retail prices for the fixed-dose combinations of Linagliptin and Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets manufactured and marketed by Macleods Pharmaceuticals, Linagliptin and Metformin Hydrochloride (ER) Tablets manufactured and marketed by Synokem Pharmaceuticals and Cipla, and Cefuroxime Axetil and Potassium Clavulanate FDC Tablets manufactured and marketed by Hetero Labs and Sun Pharmaceuticals among a few others has also been fixed.
In case the retail price of any of the aforesaid formulations is not complied with, as per instant price notification and notes specified hereinabove, then the concerned manufacturer/marketing company shall be liable to deposit the overcharged amount along with the interest thereon under the provisions of the DPCO, 2013 read with the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, said the notification issued by the NPPA which is available on the authority’s website. The details of the fixed prices are also available in the notification.
The official said that all stakeholders, retailers and stockists, will have to inform about the change in prices in 15 days. If a company fails to do so, action under the Essential Commodities Act will be taken against companies.