Karnataka drugs control department has prepared a list of companies which have drugs coming under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) to have a database of information at one go. The pharma companies in the state are in total compliance mode and adhering to the ceiling prices notified by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). The tabulated data indicates that price fall is between 15-35 per cent.

From Bal Pharma to Biocon and Micro Labs in the state have ensured that there is no violation of NPPA order of July 10,2014 listing the 108 drugs under ceiling prices.

The state drugs control department has a readymade information on manufacturers of NLEM and information of previous and past drug prices, said Raghurama Bhandary, drugs controller, government of Karnataka.

While companies are ready with the revised pricing, the issue is the prevalence of existing stocks at the over 22,000 pharmacy outlets in the 30 districts of the state. There is a challenge to withdraw the existing stocks. “However we are ensuring that for the new batch of products entering into the market, the revised drug prices are implemented. For instance in the case of GlaxoSmithKline’s Augmetine which is a penicillin injection is a fresh batch and therefore it is a new price”, he added.

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, Pancea, Torrent, Abbot 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.

Companies in Karnataka said that there is no questions of violating NPPA even if there is a fall of drug prices spanning between 15 and 35 per cent. The state pharmacy outlets said that revised prices are being implemented on new stocks.

The NPPA order is creating an impact on the small and medium players, said Shailesh Siroya, managing director, Bal Pharma. According to Biocon, very few of its products fall into new list of products put under price control, hence the company views that there will be a very marginal impact.

According to doctors from the Karnataka government, hospitals like Victoria and Bowring Lady Curzon, the benefit to the lower and middle class patients are immense. Many of the life style disorder drugs were discontinued by bread winners of the family because of the high prices. Therefore, the July 10 notification came in as a big relief to patients as it brought down the hospitalisation costs, they said.