While the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has outlined the variations in prices of different brands of medicines, the Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS), a leading medical index, tells that the price difference is not confined alone to the products of two domestic companies, or between a multinational and a domestic firm – the multinationals too are in the fray.

The MIMS has shown the example of Ramipril 5 mg where Cardace of Aventis is 76% more expensive than Sclerace of Novartis. The cost of 10 tablets of Cardace is Rs 97.02 as against Rs 55.03 of Sclerace. The MIMS list compares Risperdal (Ethnor)& Respidon (Torrent), both Risperidone 2 mg 10 tablet packs, and finds that there is a 1500% price variation with Risperdal costing Rs 270 and Respidon available for Rs 16.94. In the case of Leofloxacin 500mg also there is a price variation of 1290% with Aventis charging Rs 950 for Tavanic and Cipla selling Levoflox for Rs 68.25.

The other examples given are: Amlodipine 5 mg: Amlogard (Pfizer) – Rs 60 and Amlodac (Zydus Cadila)- Rs 15.10; Gliclazide 80mg: Diamicron (Serdia) – Rs 63.64 & Lycazid (Jagson Pal) – Rs 31 and Glimepiride 1 mg: Amaryl (Aventis) – Rs 55.57 & Euglim (Zydus Cadila) – Rs 9.87.