Prices of over 50 essential drugs capped by government

 Prices of over 50 essential drugs capped by government Prices of over 50 essential drugs including those used for treatment of HIV infection, diabetes, anxiety disorders, bacterial infections, angina and acid reflux have been capped by the government. The move has led to a price cut in the range of 5 per cent to 44 per cent.The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority or NPPA has also fixed the retail

prices of 29 formulations. In respect of medicines not under price control, manufacturers are allowed to increase the maximum retail price by 10 per cent annually.

Set up in 1997, NPPA has been entrusted with the task of fixation or revision of prices of pharmacy products, enforcement of provisions of DPCO and monitoring of prices of controlled and decontrolled drugs.