The government has given great relief to the common people. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has reduced the prices of 37 essential medicines by 10 to 15 percent. These include drugs such as paracetamol, atorvastatin and amoxicillin, which are most commonly used in diseases related to heart, diabetes and infections.
This decision was taken by the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers on Saturday under Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), 2013. The new prices will apply to 35 different formulations, which the country’s large pharmaceutical companies are prepared and sold in the market.
The drugs that the government has reduced by the government is mostly given in diseases that are associated with everyday life – such as infection, heart disease, inflammation, diabetes and vitamin deficiency. These new prices will be applicable on a total of 35 medicines or medicines formulas. These include common and effective drugs like paracetamol, atorvastatin, amoxycillin, metformin. Some new combination medicines are also in this list.
Which medicines became cheap?
Now the price of Aceclofenac + Paracetamol + Trypsin Chymotrypsin Tablet for pain and inflammation is fixed at ₹ 13 of Dr Reddy and ₹ 15.01 of Cadila. At the same time, the atorvastatin 40mg + Clopidogrel 75MG tablet required for heart patients will now be available in just ₹ 25.61.
New rates of Cefixime + Paracetamol Syrup and Vitamin D drops given to children have also been fixed. Diclofenac injection will now be available at ₹ 31.77 per.
Combination medicines given to diabetes patients such as Empagliflozin, Sitagliptin and Metformin will now be available for ₹ 16.50. Apart from this, atorvastatin-ezetimibe and asthma-allergic bilastine-montelukast tablets for cholesterol control will also be available at a low price.
Retailers will now have to accept new rules strictly
The NPPA has clearly stated that the drugs whose new price has been fixed is without GST. If a medicine is taxed, it will be connected separately. All pharmaceutical companies will have to upload their new prices on the IPDMS portal through Form-V and also send a copy to NPPA and State Pharmaceutical Department.
Shopkeepers and distributors will also have to clear the list of new prices at their shop, so that there is no confusion to the patients and customers. This rule is necessary under Section 24 of DPCO 2013.
Now the old rates will not run, action will be taken on breaking the rules
The government has made it clear that now the old rates are not valid. The new prices that have been fixed, medicines will be sold according to them. If a company or shopkeeper charges more money, then strict action will be taken on it under DPCO and Essential Commodities Act 1955.
The amount recovered from the required amount will be withdrawn along with interest. Officials say that this will make medicines cheaper, their rates will be transparent and the cost of treatment will be slightly lighter for the common people.