The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has refuted recent media reports suggesting a substantial surge in medicine prices, labeling them as "false, misleading, and malicious."
According to these reports, prices for over 500 medicines were set to escalate by 12 percent starting from April. 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).
In light of a WPI increase of 0.00551 percent, the ministry stated that there would be no alteration in the existing ceiling prices for 782 medicines. Only a marginal increase of Rs 0.01 (one paisa) would affect 54 medicines, whose ceiling prices range between Rs 90 to Rs 261.
This WPI increase represents the maximum increment allowed under the Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) 2013. However, manufacturers are not obligated to implement this minimal adjustment in their medicine prices.
Hence, for the fiscal year 2024-25, the ministry anticipates virtually no change in medicine ceiling prices based on the WPI.
Furthermore, the ministry emphasized that companies adjust their Maximum Retail Price (MRP) in accordance with the ceiling price of their medicines. The MRP (excluding GST) can be set below the ceiling price.
These revised prices are set to take effect from April 1, with detailed information available on the NPPA's official website.
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