As the NPPA’s new price order becomes effective on July 29 for the first batch of 151 formulations notified by the authority in May this year, the All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA) wanted the state government to give more time to send the old batches of revised products in the NLEM back to the companies in order to save scarcity of essential drugs.

The period given for the manufacturing companies either to reprint the new prices or withdraw the products from the market expires on July 28.

The association has urged the state health minister to forward their request to the union health ministry for an immediate solution to the critical problems affecting a large number of people in the country. They apprised the minister that the situation will largely affect the diabetic patients in the state.

After submitting a memorandum to the minister, AKCDA general secretary K Sivasankaran said certain companies have released the new price labels, but it will take more time to reach the wholesalers and retailers to be pasted on the old sticker. He said his association members are ready to sell the products of the old batches on the revised/ reduced prices from July 29.

The leaders of the trade body later called on the state drugs controller and apprised him of the situation in the market and made the same demand about the remaining stock. They wanted the drugs controller to inform the drug inspectors not to make any problem with the traders for keeping the old batches in their shelves at the shops. The association gave assurance to the drug controller that they would sell the products on the rates prescribed by the authority from July 29 onwards.

When contacted, Kerala drug controller P Hariprasad informed that he has directed the drug inspectors in all the districts not to disturb the traders in enforcing the new order because it will create shortage of drugs. He wanted the traders to re-print or re-label the new price as early as possible.

“To avoid scarcity of essential drugs, we have requested them to sell the old batches on the new rates. If the order is strictly implemented, there will be chance of scarcity of essential drugs. However, our officers will monitor whether the drugs are sold on the new rates or not,” he added.

According to sources, Ranbaxy has brought out new label with the revised price for their amoxicillin product, Mox. But it has not reached the retail level.

While speaking, Hariprasad said his office has received circular from DCGI informing that all the old stocks of the 151 formulations should carry the new price, either reprinted or relabelled from July 29th onwards. The new price will include the ceiling price notified by NPPA and the local tax.