The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised the prices of 149 formulations including several formulations based on anti-malaria bulk drug, chloroquine. With that the maximum retail prices of most of the packs have gone up.


The formulations were based on bulk drugs like chloroquine, salbutamol, spironolactone, framycetin sulphate, pheniramine maleate, dexamethasone, prednisolone acetate, monocomponent insulin, beplex elixir, beplex forte elixir, aldactone, spiromide, and minilactone, along with some of their combinations, according to the notification by the price regulator.


The price of chloroquine phosphate-250mg (10’s strip/Blsiter) went to Rs.6.66 from Rs.6.36 and the MRP of chloroquine phosphate-500mg 10's strip/blsiter went to Rs.6.42 from Rs.6.12. Likewise, the MRP of 60 ml bottle of chloroquine suspension (chloroquine phosphate) was raised from Rs.15.60 to Rs.15.77, as per the notification dated April 28.


The prices of as many as seven formulations of chloroquine were revised and the MRP went up. In the case of salbutamol sulphate, 11 formulations including some combinations have become costlier. Salbutamol sulphate, marketed by leading companies, is used for relief of bronchospasm, in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The prices of eight formulations of spironolactone tablets and its combinations also went up.