The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed norms for conversion cost, packing charges, packing materials and process loss in the case of insulin cartridges, to be in force with immediate effect.

Though there are prescribed norms of CC, PC, PM and PL for tablets, strips, ointments and syrups etc, and the rates for the same are revised every year depending on the inputs from the industry, it is for the first time that the price regulator has introduced the norms for insulin cartridges. This was done after carrying out the study in this regard.

According to the notification, conversion cost for 3ml insulin cartridge will be Rs 3.83 while the packing charges will be Rs 2.57 for the same. As part of norms for the packing material, the charge was fixed at Rs 15.30 for the 3ml cartridge with glass ball and Rs 14.69 without glass ball. The agency also has fixed the process loss at 12 per cent in the case of raw material for insulin cartridges.

The NPPA has already started the process to revise the CC, PC, PL, and PM costs in the case of tablets and other categories for which norms are in force. And the industry is hoping for increase in the same.

Last year, NPPA had revised these rates upto 9 per cent and this time around also, the industry associations have been demanding for higher margin. The NPPA has already sent letters to the industry associations and companies inviting suggestions in the stipulated format to revise the norms. It has also begun studies about the same independently in the market.