- The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has approved a 50% increase in the ceiling prices of 11 scheduled formulations of eight essential drugs.
- These drugs are crucial for public health programmes, treating conditions such as asthma, glaucoma, tuberculosis, thalassemia, and mental health disorders.
- The increase aims to ensure the continued availability of essential drugs at affordable prices, preventing shortages in the market.
- Manufacturers cited increased costs of active pharmaceutical ingredients, production, and exchange rate changes.
- Some manufacturers applied to discontinue certain formulations due to unviability.
- The revised prices apply to drugs like Atropine injection, Streptomycin powder, Salbutamol tablets, Pilocarpine drops, Cefadroxil tablets, Desferrioxamine for injection, and Lithium tablets.
- The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is an independent body that is attached to the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
- The Government of India established the NPPA in 1997 to regulate drug prices and ensure affordable access to medicines
- Whereas, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) is part of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- The DTAB is a committee that advises the Central and State Governments on technical matters related to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, of 1940.
- The DTAB is the highest statutory decision-making body on technical matters related to drugs in India
| Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has recommended the inclusion of all antibiotics in the definition of “new drug” under the New Drugs and Clinical Trial (NDCT) Rules, 2019. This move aims to curb the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance, a global public health concern. Antibiotics will require Union government approval for manufacturing, marketing, and sale, instead of State drug administration clearance. Patients will only be able to purchase antibiotics with a prescription, ensuring stricter control over their use. Plans to amend labelling requirements under the Drugs Rules, 1945, will include a blue strip or box for antimicrobial products. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has reported increasing drug resistance in diseases like urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and typhoid. |
Dig Deeper: Read about Anti-Microbial Resistance.
