Prices of essential medicines set to rise by 10% from April
India Today
Prices for essential medicines are expected to rise by 10.7 per cent beginning in April.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority of India on Friday announced a 10.7 per cent change in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the calendar year 2021 over the corresponding period in 2020.
This means that the prices of nearly 800 scheduled medicines on the National List of Essential Medicines, which are used to treat the majority of common ailments, will rise by 10.7 percent beginning April 1.
"Based on the WPI data provided by the office of the Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the annual change in WPI works out as 10.76607% during the calendar year 2021 over the corresponding period in 2020," the NPPA notice said.
Now the prices of medicines used to treat fever, infections, heart diseases, high blood pressure, skin diseases and anaemia will increase. This includes drugs like Paracetamol, Phenobarbitone, Phenytoin Sodium, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride and Metronidazole.
“This is brought to the notice of all concerned for further action as per the provisions of Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013,” it added.
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