National News

Centre cuts prices of 35 essential medicines to ease patient burden

In a move to make medicines more affordable for patients, the NPPA has reduced the retail prices of 35 essential drugs sold by leading pharmaceutical companies.

Sentinel Digital Desk

NEW DELHI: In a move to make medicines more affordable for patients, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has reduced the retail prices of 35 essential drugs sold by leading pharmaceutical companies.  The formulations, which will now cost less, span a wide range of medicines including anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, antibiotic, anti-diabetic and psychiatric medicines. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers notified the order based on price regulation by the NPPA. The price reductions, which apply across drugs, are expected to bring relief to consumers, particularly those managing chronic conditions.  The key formulations covered by the price control order include fixed-dose combinations of Aceclofenac, Paracetamol and Trypsin Chymotrypsin, Amoxycillin and Potassium Clavulanate, Atorvastatin combinations and newer oral anti-diabetic combinations like Empagliflozin, Sitagliptin, and Metformin. The price of one Aceclofenac-Paracetamol-Trypsin Chymotrypsin tablet manufactured by Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals and marketed by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has now been fixed at Rs 13, while the same formulation marketed by Cadila Pharmaceuticals is now priced at Rs 15.01.  Similarly, a tablet containing Atorvastatin 40 mg and Clopidogrel 75 mg, widely used for cardiovascular conditions, is priced at Rs 25.61.  (IANS) 

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