Government of India
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Department of Pharmaceuticals
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority

YMCA Cultural Center Building,
1, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi-110001
Phone : 011-23345116/18, Fax : 23445119

Dated : 24^th July, 2012

Press Note

Subject:    Price revision of Drugs by NPPA in its 125th meeting held on 11.07.2012.

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The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has fixed/ revised the prices of 154 drug formulation packs as on 19^th July, 2012. Of these, Ceiling Prices have been fixed in respect of 138 drug formulation packs, which are applicable to all manufacturers.  Company specific Non-ceiling prices have been fixed in case of 16 packs of drug formulation.

The prices have been fixed for the first time in respect of 33 drug formulation packs. No price increases have been allowed in respect of 17 packs keeping the consumer interest in view.  In the case of 80 packs, the prices have been reduced from the existing level ranging from 0.12% to 37.76%.  In the case of 24 packs, prices have been increased ranging from 0.64% to 31.40% to accommodate the unavoidable increase in input Raw material cost, Conversion cost, Packing Charges and Packing Material Norms in order to make availability of the essential drugs to the consumers. In absolute term the price reduction ranges from Rs.0.04 to Rs.3.52 per pack.

The drug formulation containing the Vitamin C & its derivatives have been revised on Suo-moto basis to pass on the benefit of reduction in bulk drug prices  to consumers as manufacturers failed to send price revision application to NPPA within the stipulated time limit of 30 days as per DPCO, 1995.  In these cases the prices have been reduced ranging from 0.12% to 37.76% than the existing price resulting lower price for Vitamin C formulations which will benefit the consumers at a large.

The revised prices have been fixed strictly per the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 1995 and the guidelines in this regard.  The revised price lists are to be issued by the manufacturers/importers under sub paragraph (3) of paragraph 14 of the DPCO, 1995 and the compliance  should be reported to the government/NPPA, State Drug Control Authorities and distributors, wholesalers and retailers or any other agent.

The prices were fixed in respect of derivative formulations of the bulk drugs namely, Aspirin with Rosuvastatin (Cardiovascular), Cefotaxime (Antibacterial), Chlorpromazine with combination (Antipsychotic), Vitamine E (Tocopheryl) (Vitamin E Supplement), Streptomycin with Penicillin(Antibiotic), Norfloxacin (Antibacterial), Vitamin C with combination (Vitamin C Supplement and Antioxidant), Sulphadoxine with combination(Antimalarial), Dexamethasone with combination (Anti-inflamatory), Multivitamin with Vitamin C (Vitamin Supplement) and Insulin formulations etc.

Necessary Gazette Notification Orders to this affect have been issued separately.

Some leading National News Papers recently reported that NPPA has increased the price of Insulin formulations.  This is factually incorrect and baseless.  NPPA has not increased the price of any insulin formulation. It is pertinent to state that the major manufacturers/importers of diabetic drug Insulin, such as  M/s Eli Lilly, M/s. Cadila and M/s. Lupin M/s. Biocon etc applied for upward revision in the retail price of Insulin. However, keeping the interest of large number of consumer’s, the prices of insulin formulations have been maintained at the existing level by suitably adjusting the profit margin in order to ensure the abundant availability of Insulin formulations at reasonable prices.