Ceiling price of 4 emergency-use meds, retail price of 37 others capped | India News

NEW DELHI: Govt has fixed the ceiling price of formulations of four emergency-use medicines and fixed retail price of 37 other drug formulations, including antibiotics and painkillers, of certain companies.The emergency-use medicines include Ipratropium, used to prevent wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Its ceiling price was fixed at Rs 2.96 per ml. For Sodium Nitroprusside, an injectable used to rapidly lower BP in hypertensive emergencies, during surgery to reduce bleeding, and in cases of acute heart failure, it was fixed at Rs 28.99 per ml; for Diltiazem, used to treat high BP and chest pain, it was fixed at Rs 26.72 per capsule; and for Povidone Iodine, used for skin disinfection before and after surgery and minor wound care, it was fixed at Rs 6.26 per gram.“Manufacturers selling branded or generic or both versions of the medicines at a price higher than ceiling price (plus GST) shall revise the prices downward not exceeding the ceiling price…,” National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) said. Manufacturers having an MRP lower than ceiling price shall continue to maintain the existing MRP, said NPPA.