Essential drugs News

Check the details of medicines, quantity and their prices as notified by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.

Prices of majority of essential drugs will increase by up to 2.29 percent when the Goods and Services Tax regime kicks in from next month.

Drug pricing regulator NPPA has fixed the ceiling price of 30 more formulations, including those used for treatment of hepatitis, heart conditions, infections, fever and pain.

The government has allowed pharmaceutical companies to hike rates of 509 essential medicines used for treating various ailments like diabetes, hepatitis and cancer by 3.84 percent with effect from April 1.

In its drive to fix prices of patented drugs, national drug price regulator NPPA has sought complete details of such medicines sold in the Indian market from drug makers.

Government said that by next month, it will come out with a new list of life-saving drugs whose prices would be controlled.

The rise in prices of essential medicines, including those used for treatment of tuberculosis, AIDS and diabetes, resulting from price decontrol of 108 drugs was on Wednesday raised in Rajya Sabha with entire Opposition seeking government's response on the matter.

The government has stripped drug pricing authority NPPA of powers to cap prices of non- essential drugs after its recent order triggered industry protests.

The medicines join the 348 drugs deemed essential and that are therefore subject to price caps.