India, March 20 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) regulates the prices of medicines as per extant provisions of DPCO, 2013. NPPA fixes the ceiling prices of formulations specified in Schedule-I to DPCO, 2013. All manufacturers, marketers and importers of scheduled medicines are required to sell their products within such ceiling price (plus applicable local taxes). As on 18.3.2026, Ceiling prices of 935 formulations are effective.
NPPA also fixes retail prices of new drugs as defined in para 2(1)(u) of DPCO, 2013. As on 18.3.2026, Retail prices of 3,702 new drugs are fixed. Further, in case of non-scheduled formulations, manufacturers are required to not increase their maximum retail price (MRP) of a formulation by more than ten percent of the MRP of that formulation during the preceding 12 months. In addition, NPPA also fixes the prices of drugs under Para 19 of the DPCO, 2013 in case of extra-ordinary circumstances and in public interest to ensure the availability of drugs at affordable prices which, inter alia, include the following:
Details of prices fixed or revised by NPPA are available on NPPA's website (www.nppa.gov.in). NPPA monitors the prices of drugs and instances of overcharging are dealt with as per the relevant provisions of DPCO, 2013.
As informed by Department Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Government has incorporated several safeguards under the provisions of the Patents Act, 1970 to maintain a balance between the interests of innovator pharmaceutical companies and generic manufacturers, while ensuring access to affordable medicines. The key measures are as under: -
As informed by DPIIT, the Patents Act, 1970 contains carefully designed safeguards to ensure that Compulsory Licensing (CL) is invoked only in exceptional circumstances, while protecting the legitimate interests of patent holders. The key provisions are as under:
This information was given by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
