The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has allowed a one-time increase of 50 percent in the ceiling prices of almost nine scheduled formulations of three drugs namely, carbamazepine, ranitidine, and ibuprofen for confirming their availability. The NPPA said in its order that these drugs are important to the public health program and are used as the first line of treatment. 

In a meeting held on 28th June, the upward price revision of these formulations under the Para 19 of Drugs Prices Control Order, 2013 (DPCO) was done and the scheduled formulations were considered for upward price revision and were under repeated price controls. 

Carbamazepine is used for epilepsy and ranitidine for the treatment of stomach ulcers and to prevent intestinal ulcers from recurring after being healed. Ibuprofen is used for pain management for several conditions such as headache, menstrual cramps, muscle aches, dental pain, or arthritis.

NPPA mentioned that the unavailability of these drugs should not lead to a situation of becoming unavailable in the market and the common public is forced to switch to alternatives that are costly.

A one-time price increase of 50 percent from the current ceiling price is being considered in the public interest to avoid repeated price control as per the Standing Committee on Affordable Medicines and Health Products. NPPA provides ceiling prices to all drugs that are notified under Schedule-1 of the DPCO 2013. It also monitors the rise in annual prices for non-scheduled drugs.

Source: ET Healthworld