NPPA hikes prices of 62 drugs

Prices of 62 drugs, mainly used for treating diabetes and tuberculosis, have been raised while the rates of 14 other medicines have been reduced by drug pricing regulator NPPA. However, prices of 21 drugs have remained unchanged after a fresh review of the pricing of key medicines by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) at its meeting last week. The NPPA, which considered rates for 19 drugs for the first time, reviewed prices of drugs used in treatment of diabetes, allergy, malaria, diarrhoea, asthma and hypertension along with antiseptics. "We have to do a balancing act and provide a level playing field to the indigenous manufacturers who account for nearly 10 per cent of the total domestic market for insulin," NPPA Chairman S M Jharwal said. He said that despite the increased in prices of insulin-based medicines, drugs for treatment of diabetes manufactured by two domesitic firms--Biocon and Wockhardt-- would still remain affordable.