Anti-diabetic and cardiovascular drugs which have been capped as per the July 10 NPPA order are available across the country at the revised prices. Pharmacist Associations in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh say that 108 new drugs covered under ceiling prices as per the NPPA order are available now at retail pharmacies.
Majority of the companies across the country, except a few, have decided to fall in line after waiting for two months. Regulatory authorities, however, say that violation of the same may attract penalties under the Essential Commodities Act and Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). A senior Maharashtra FDA official informs that no case of violation has been detected as yet. The NPPA July 10 order is specific and prospective in nature.
In Gujarat, however, some 600 plus small and medium sized pharma companies have been detected to be violating the order by Gujarat Food and Drug Control Organization (FDCA). Informs Dr HG Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat FDCA, "This can be due to lack of awareness but the matter has been reported to the National Pharmaceutical Authority (NPPA) for their consideration and action."
As per sources, drugs manufactured and marketed in brand names by Lupin Ltd., MSD, Glenmark Pharma, Sanofi, Abbott Healthcare, Panacea Biotec, Torrent Pharma among others are available in the market.
The prices of antidiabetic and cardiovascular drugs across all brands would vary in the range of 10 per cent to 40 per cent and even 50 per cent in some cases. Anti-diabetic drug Amaryl 1mg 15 tablets from Sanofi is currently being supplied at the revised DPCO price at Rs. 60.15 as compared to the earlier price of Rs. 112 and Amaryl 2 mg 15 tablets is currently being supplied at the revised DPCO price at Rs. 98.10 as compared to the earlier price of Rs. 160.15. Sanofi's anti-hypertensive drug Cardace 2.5 mg is now available at the current revised price of Rs. 59.30 for 15 tablets as compared to the earlier price of Rs. 79.80. Cardace 5 mg is now available at the current revised price of Rs. 92.10 for 15 tablets as compared to the earlier price of Rs. 128.80.
The drugs coming under the NPPA list cover conditions like blood pressure cardiovascular, cholesterol diabetes and infectious diseases. These include atorvastatin for cholesterol manufactured by Micro Labs, Sun Pharma, Torrent, gliclazide by Dr. Reddy’s, Indoco, IPCA, glimepiride for diabetes by Unichem, Micro Labs, Glenmark, Sanofi, Panacea, Torrent, Abbott to name a few, heparin by Biocon and Gland Pharma used to prevent blood clot and metolazone used in cardiovascular diseases by Zydus Cadila. Atenol, Olmesartan and Telmisartan are some of the blood pressure drugs which report fall in prices by half. Telmisartan was priced at Rs. 8.33 per tablet will now cost Rs. 4.38 per tablet. Diabetic drugs are reported to see a fall by 35 per cent per tablet.