The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised/fixed the prices of 29 formulation packs on November 19, 2003. Prices have been fixed for the first time in the case of 27 formulation packs. In the case of 1 pack, the price has been revised downwards (-12.92 per cent), due to downward revision in the price of concerned scheduled bulk drugs. In other case, the price has increased by 17.44 per cent due to upward revision in the price of bulk drug used in formulations.

Of the 29 formulation packs, ceiling prices (exclusive of excise duty and local taxes etc.) have been fixed in respect of 25 packs. The non-ceiling prices (inclusive of excise duty but exclusive of local taxes etc.) have been fixed in respect of 4 packs of two companies, Strides Arcolab Ltd. and Wyeth Lederle Ltd.

The prices have been fixed/revised in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), 1995 and as per the established criteria and guidelines, stated an NPPA release.

The formulations for which prices have been revised/fixed are Aspirin with Caffine tablet used as analgesic, Pentoxyfylline based formulations used in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease, Vitamin C tablet and Vitamin B Complex Elixir, Anti TB Combination formulations of Rifampicin+Isoniazid+Ethambutol and Ephedrine HCl based combination formulations used in treatment of Bronchospasm, Bronchial Asthma, Bronchitis etc.

The prices fixed/revised would become effective within 15 days from the date of notification in the official gazette or the receipt of the Non-Ceiling Price (NCP) Order of the NPPA in this behalf, as per Para 14(1) of DPCO, 1995.