Health Desk
16 May
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The government has announced a reduction in the prices of 41 commonly used medicines and six formulations for treating diabetes, heart, and liver ailments. This move, aimed at making essential medicines more affordable, includes antacids, multivitamins, and antibiotics.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) issued a notification instructing pharmaceutical companies to immediately inform dealers and stockists of the new reduced prices. The decision was made during the NPPA’s 143rd meeting, emphasizing the importance of keeping essential medicines within financial reach for the public.
India, which has one of the highest diabetes rates globally with over 10 crore patients, stands to benefit significantly from this price reduction.
This follows the Department of Pharmaceuticals’ release last month of its annual revised ceiling prices for 923 scheduled drug formulations and revised retail prices for 65 formulations, effective from April 1. The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to public health by ensuring the affordability of crucial medications.