GUWAHATI: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a statement on Wednesday refuting media reports that claimed a substantial increase in medicine prices, labeling them as "false, misleading, and malicious".
The reports alleged a 12 percent surge in medicine prices effective from April, impacting over 500 medicines. However, the ministry clarified that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) annually revises the ceiling prices of scheduled medicines based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
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According to the ministry, the WPI increase of 0.00551 percent will not lead to any change in the prevailing ceiling prices for 782 medicines. Only 54 medicines will experience a marginal increase of Rs 0.01 (one paisa), with ceiling prices ranging from Rs 90 to Rs 261.
Emphasising that this minuscule increase is permissible under the provisions of the Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) 2013, the ministry highlighted that manufacturers have the discretion to avail or forego this increment. The revised prices, effective from April 1, will be accessible on the NPPA's website for reference.
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"In the year FY 2024-25, there will be almost no change in the ceiling price of medicines based on WPI," the ministry asserted. It explained that pharmaceutical companies adjust their Maximum Retail Price (MRP) in alignment with the ceiling price, as the MRP (excluding GST) can be set at any value lower than the ceiling price.
