Common medicines like Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Mefenamic acid, Paracetmol, and Morphine will become expensive from today. The medicines included in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) will be bought at a higher price from April 1, as per a notification released by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. This will apply to more than 800 drugs mentioned on the NELM.
"Based on the WPI data provided by the office of the Economic Advisor, Department of Industry and Internal trade Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the annual change in WPI works out as (+) 0.00551% during the calendar year 2023 over the corresponding period in 2022," said the notice by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
The medicines which are going to be cheaper from today include painkillers like paracetamol, morphine; TB medicines like Amikacin, Bedaquiline, Clarithromycin; anticonvulsants like Clobazam, Diazepam, Lorazepam; antidotes in poisoning like activated Charcoal, D-Penicillamine, Nalaxone, Snake venom and antibiotics like Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Benzylpenicillin, Cefadroxil, Cefazolin, and Ceftriaxone; Folic Acid, Iron Sucrose, Hydroxocobalamin, Flunarizine, Propranolol, Donepezil, Abacavir, Lamivudine, Zidovudine, Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Raltegravir, Dolutegravir, Ritonavir, Clotrimazole, Fluconazole, Mupirocin, Nystatin, Terbinafine, Dilitazem, Metoprolol, Digoxin, Verapramil, Amlodipine, Ramipril, Telmisarten; Malaria medicines like Artesunate, Artemether, Chloroquine, Clindamycin, Quinine, Primaquine, 5-Fluorouracil, Actinomycin D, All-trans retinoic acid, Arsenic trioxide, Calcium folinate, Chlorohexidine, Ethyl Alcohol, Hydrogen peroxide, Povidine iodine, Potassium permanganate and general anaesthetics and oxygen medicines like Halothane, Isoflurane, Ketamine, Nitrous oxide, etc.
The NPPA announced that the change will amount to 0.0055 per cent for medicines under the NLEM in line with the annual change in the wholesale price index (WPI).
