The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has authorized a 50% increase in the prices of eight essential drugs commonly used to treat asthma, glaucoma , thalassemia, tuberculosis , and mental health disorders. The decision comes in response to complaints from drug manufacturers about rising costs of pharmaceutical ingredients, production expenses, and fluctuations in exchange rates. The price hike affects 11 formulations of these eight medications. These formulations include streptomycin powder for injection, benzylpenicillin injection, atropine injection, salbutamol tablets, respirator solution, pilocarpine drops, cefadroxil tablet, deferoxamine injection, and lithium tablets.
Essential drugs, referred to as “scheduled drugs,” are listed in the National List of Essential Medicines. The list currently comprises 384 drugs and four medical devices. The Indian Government…
