The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised prices of 100 formulation packs and three bulk drugs, namely cefadroxyl monohydrate, metronidazole and metronidazole benzoate. The agency has also removed methylprednisolone from the list of Scheduled drugs.


“In exercise of the powers, conferred by sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 read with SO 637 (E), dated the September 4, 1997 issued by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority hereby notify that bulk drug methylprednisolone does not come in the category of scheduled bulk drugs as it is not a salt, ester, stereo-isomer and / or derivative of Scheduled bulk drug prednisolone listed in the First Schedule of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995,” said a notification by the NPPA dated July 1.


The price of cefadroxyl monohydrate became costlier at Rs.2951 per kg, against the existing price of Rs.2758 fixed by the agency in March 2008. Likewise, the price of metronidazole benzoate also went up to Rs.450 per kg, though slightly from the old price of Rs.447. However, the price of metronidazole was lowered to Rs.514 per kg from the existing price of Rs.526, fixed in August 2008, according to the notification.


The 100 formulation packs, for which new prices have been fixed, included formulations based on bulk drugs and their combinations like pheniramine maleate, dexamethasone with combination, salbutamol with combination, ranitidine, prednisolone, pyritinol dihydrochloride, levodopa+carbidopa, acetyl salicylate with combination, pyrantel pamoate, ibuprofen with combination, neomycin+doxycycline, vitamin C + kojic acid, tetracycline+hydrocortisone, daivobet ointment, combiflam, human insulin - UNIVA R/Mix/N, beplex injection, insugen - N/ 30/70, 50/50, regular, and biosulin -30/70, 50/50, regular, NPH and lupisulin -30/70, 50/50, regular, NPH, as per the notice.