More than 800 essential medicines to become 10.7% expensive by April 2022

March 26: After petroleum products, it’s now the price of essential medicines which would become soon a cause of concern. As per reports, more than 800 essential medicines comprising antibiotics, anti-infective & painkillers are all set to become expensive by 10.7% from April, 2022.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), the country’s drug pricing authority on Friday announced a 10.7 per cent change in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the calendar year 2021 over the same period in 2020. This implies that the prices of around 800 drugs under the National List of Essential Medicines, will increase by 10.7 per cent beginning April 1.

Now the prices of medicines used to treat fever, infections, heart diseases, high blood pressure, skin diseases and anaemia will increase. This includes drugs like Paracetamol, Phenobarbitone, Phenytoin Sodium, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride and Metronidazole. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry welcomed the government’s decision stating that this 10% hike in scheduled drugs is after many years.

As per Drugs Price Control Order 2013, NPPA is allowed to revise the ceiling price of scheduled formulations as per the annual WPI for the preceding calendar year on or before Apr. 1 of every year and notify the same on the first day of April every year.