NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at ensuring affordability and access, the government has fixed the ceiling prices of four emergency-use drug formulations and set the retail prices of 37 other medicines, including key antibiotics and pain relievers.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) announced the price caps on Friday, covering essential drugs used in emergency and routine care.
Among the emergency-use medicines:
- Ipratropium, used to relieve wheezing and shortness of breath in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has been capped at ₹2.96 per ml.
- Sodium Nitroprusside, an injectable used in hypertensive emergencies, surgeries, and acute heart failure, is now priced at ₹28.99 per ml.
- Diltiazem, prescribed for high blood pressure and chest pain, is capped at ₹26.72 per capsule.
- Povidone Iodine, used for pre- and post-surgical skin disinfection and wound care, is fixed at ₹6.26 per gram.
The NPPA has directed that all manufacturers selling branded or generic versions of these medicines must revise their prices downward, ensuring they do not exceed the newly set ceiling price plus applicable GST.
Manufacturers already pricing their products below the ceiling are required to maintain their existing MRPs, the authority added.
The capped retail prices for 37 other formulations span a range of widely used drugs, reflecting the government’s ongoing efforts to regulate essential medicine costs and make healthcare more affordable.
