The National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed/revised the drug prices in respect of 39 formulation packs, ranging from commonly used diabetes drugs to antibiotics. The new drugs listed by the NPPA include commonly used antibiotics such as azithromycin, combinations of metformin for diabetes, as well as the anti-emetic domperidone.

In a notification dated 13.7.2015, the NPPA has fixed/revised the formulation packs of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, cefotaxime, bisoprolol fumarate+ amlodipine, metformin HCL + gliclazide+pioglitazone, glimepiride + metformin (GRID 2 M), chlorthalidone + metoprolol, ondansetron (Emeset Fast), azithromycin, paracetamol (Koolpara DS), cefixime+ ofloxacin (Zimnic O 400 SR), clopidogrel+atorvastatin+ aspirin (Deplatt CV 20 Forte), diclofenac potassium+ metaxalone, telmisartan + metoprolol (ZITELMI M 25) / (ZITELMI M 50), clobetasol propionate + salicylic acid (Zincoderm-S 6 per cent) / clobetasol propionate + neomycin (Zincoderm-N) / clobetasol propionate + neomycin+ miconazole nitrate (Zincoderm-NM), clobetasol propionate + neomycin+ miconazole nitrate (Rovate GM Neo) and paracetamol (Leemol-650) / aciclovir (ZOSTER 800) / ofloxacin (OLTEF 100).

The list also includes formulation packs of ceftriaxone sodium + sulbactam sodium (Trusten S), ofloxacin + ornidazole (Galoxin OZ), ferrous ascorbate + folic acid + zinc sulphate (Fcount-XT; SHIFER), paracetamol and mannitol, domperidone, pantoprazole+ levosulpiride (PPPI-L), trypsin+ bromelain+ rutoside trihydrate+ diclofenac (Tibrolin D), metformin HCl + voglibose (K-MET Duo 0.2) & (K-MET Duo 0.3), amoxycillin + potassium clavulanate (Evoxil-CV Duos),  pantoprazole + domperidone (Nicopenta DSR), metformin HCl+ gliclazide (GCZ M 80) and ferrous ascorbate+ folic acid (Hemogold-XT).

The manufacturers of these scheduled formulations should furnish quarterly return to the NPPA, in respect of production/import and sale of scheduled formulation in Form-III of scheduled-II of the DPCO, 2013. Any manufacturer intending to discontinue above said scheduled formulation shall furnish information to the NPPA, in respect of discontinuation of the production and/or import of schedules formulation in Form-IV of scheduled-II of the DPCO, 2013 at least six months prior to the indented date of discontinuation.

The manufacturers not complying with the ceiling price and notes specified hereinabove in this notification, shall be liable to deposit overcharged amount along with the interest thereon under the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 read with the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the NPPA in its notification warned.