The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised the prices of 26 more formulations as part of the ongoing exercise of refixing the prices of essential medicines covered under the new pharmaceutical policy and the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013.

The pharma pricing regulator has also withdrawn the price fixation in the case of two formulations, announced in its earlier notifications. “In exercise of the powers, conferred by paragraph 4, 11 and 14 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, read with S.O. No. 1394(E) dated the May 30, 2013 issued by the Government of India in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (hereinafter referred as NPPA) hereby withdraw the Gazette Notification S.O. No. 1818(E) dated June 21, 2013, relating to Glucose Injection 5% isotonic, with immediate effect,” said the notification dated July 22.

In the similar way, the regulator also withdrew the earlier notification with regard to Oral Rehydration Salts Powder for Solution, with immediate effect. Earlier notification was made on June 14. Prices of both these formulations were fixed as per the new DPCO.

The 26 formulations, whose prices were revised, are based on isoflurane, tramadol, chlorpheniramine maleate, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, naloxone, ceftriaxone cefixime, azithromycin, isoniazid, ofloxacin, propranolol hydrochloride, cisplatin, methotrexate, mesna, ondansetron, iron dextran, enoxaparin, metoprolol, lignocaine hydrochloride, cetrimide, mannitol, polyvalent antisnake venom, timolol maleate, mifepristone and calcium carbonate.

So far, the NPPA had revised the prices of over 270 formulations in four batches, after the new DPCO was notified based on the new pharmaceutical pricing policy. The new prices will be made into effect after the stipulated window period of 45 days.

According to the new pricing policy, the ceiling of prices is fixed based on the simple average of the prices of all brands of that drug that have a market share of at least one per cent. The national list of essential medicines lists 348 bulk drugs, which are sold as 650 formulations.