Around 800 essential medicines, including antibiotics, anti-infectives, and painkillers, will see price increases starting in April, as the government has approved a 10 percent increase for the scheduled prescriptions.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), announced on Friday a 10.7 percent increase in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for calendar year 2021 over the same time in 2020. This means that from April 1, the prices of about 800 medications on the National List of Essential Medicines would rise by 10.7 percent.
"Based on WPI data provided by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Office of the Economic Advisor, the yearly change in WPI during the calendar year 2021 over the equivalent time in 2020 comes out to 10.76607 percent," the NPPA announcement stated.
Medicines for infections, fever, skin disorders, heart illnesses, anaemia, and high blood pressure will see an increase in price. Azithromycin, Metronidazole, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride, Phenobarbitone, Paracetamol and Phenytoin Sodium are among the medications in this category.
"This is brought to the attention of those concerned for future action in accordance with the requirements of the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013," according to the notice.
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