MUMBAI: Prices of essential medicines, including painkillers, anti-infective medicines, supplements and antibiotics, are set to increase by over 4%, as the government approves the hike, in agreement with the annual Wholesale Price Index (WPI). Prices of cardiac stents are also set to rise on the basis of WPI by 4.26% for calendar year 2018. The revision in prices for both stents and medicines will be effective from April 1.

Prices of 871 medicines that are included in the National List of Essential Medicines are expected to rise by over 4%. Ceiling prices of drug-eluting stents (DES) have been revised upwards of Rs 30,080, and bare metal stents at Rs 8,261 (excluding GST).

Earlier, the price for DES (metallic and biodegradable) was Rs 28,849, and for bare metal stent was Rs 7,923.

Manufacturers selling branded/generic, or both versions of scheduled formulations at a price higher than ceiling price (plus GST as applicable), shall revise the prices downward, not exceeding the ceiling price specified (plus GST as applicable). Companies with scheduled formulations with MRP less than the ceiling price can revise it upwards, agreeing with WPI.