In a move to make healthcare more affordable and reduce profiteering in the pharmaceutical industry, the Indian government has capped the prices of 41 essential generic medicines. These drugs are commonly used to treat diabetes, heart conditions, fever, stress, pain, and other lifestyle-related illnesses.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) issued a notification setting the maximum retail prices—exclusive of GST—for these generic drug formulations. The goal is to ensure broader access to essential medications and keep prices in check.
The list includes widely prescribed medicines such as Empagliflozin, Metformin, Atorvastatin, Ezetimibe, Melatonin, Zolpidem, and Paracetamol. These drugs are often used to manage chronic conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep disorders, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, and general pain.
A price comparison with February’s list shows that most prices have remained stable. However, the combination drug Atorvastatin and Ezetimibe has seen a slight reduction of 3.3%.
The new pricing applies only to manufacturers and marketing companies that have sought price approval under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). Only Goods and Services Tax (GST) can be added to the capped price, provided it has been paid by the manufacturer.
This decision reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to make essential treatments more accessible while promoting fair practices in the pharmaceutical market.
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