The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has hiked the prices of three bulk drugs and revised the prices of 187 formulation packs, including some common drugs like aspirin combinations, monocomponent insulin, vitamin a and multivitamin.

The prices of three bulk drugs – anti-fungal Iodochlorohydroxyquinoline (ICHQ), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Ibuprofen and antibiotic rifampicin—were raised by the national price regulator, according to a notification dated September 20.

The price of ICHQ was increased to Rs.1158 per kg from Rs.933 that was fixed in April 2009 while the price of Ibuprofen went up slightly from Rs.486 to Rs.498 per kg. The price for Ibuprofen, used widely as a pain killer, was earlier fixed in 2008. In the case of rifampicin, the price went up marginally from Rs.3742 to Rs.4111 per kg. The price for this bulk drug was earlier fixed in April 2009.

Another order by the agency said that the prices of 187 formulation packs had been revised. It also revised the norms for conversion cost, packing charges, packing materials and process loss of packing materials in the case of non-PVC bag.

The prices of formulation packs that were revised included aspirin with combination, tetracycline, streptomycin with combination, ranitidine, cefadroxyl, vitamine E (Tocopheryl) Acetate, cloxacillin with combination, prednisolone, metronidazole with combination, cloxacillin with combination, trimethoprim with combination erythromycin with combination, theophyllin with combination, cefadroxyl, salbutamol with combination, dexamethasone with combination, metronidazole, metronidazole, metronidazole with dextrose, vitamin A, multivitamin, gentamycin, dexamethasone with combination, metronidazole with combination, pred forte, ozurdex/retina, monocomponent insulin, vitalux plus TR combiflam, and dextrose/sodium chloride inj.