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Drug Price Reductions on 41 Essential Medications: NPPA Lowers Retail Costs for Diabetes, Fever, and Pain Relief Medications

Examine the specifics of medications, dosage, and their prices as announced by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Regulatory Authority.

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Examine the specifics of medications, including dosages and costs, as outlined by the National...
Examine the specifics of medications, including dosages and costs, as outlined by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.

Drug Price Reductions on 41 Essential Medications: NPPA Lowers Retail Costs for Diabetes, Fever, and Pain Relief Medications

In the heart of India's capital, New Delhi, the government announces maximum retail prices for 41 essential medicines. These life-saving drugs treat a range of diseases, including diabetes, heart issues, fever, pain, stress, and other lifestyle disorders. On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) published a notification outlining these prices, with pharmaceutical companies given the flexibility to add additional GST on the established prices.

Here are the detailed prices of the medicines per the NPPA's notification:

  1. Alginate RaftForming Oral Suspension: Rs 0.93/1 ml
  2. Atorvastatin & Ezetimibe Tablets: Rs 19.66/1 Tablet, Rs 54.29/1 Tablet
  3. Ceftriaxone, Sulbactam & Disodium Edetate Powder for solution for Infusion: Rs 515.57/1 vial
  4. Cefuroxime & Potassium Clavulanate Tablets: Rs 60.62/1 Tablet
  5. Cholecalciferol Oral Drops: Rs 4.76/1 ml
  6. Clindamycin & Nicotinamide gel: Rs 7.24/1 gm
  7. Iron, Folic Acid & Cyanocobalamin Syrup: Rs 0.23/1 ml
  8. Melatonin & Zolpidem Tartrate Tablets: Rs 6.62/1 Tablet, Rs 8.73/1 Tablet
  9. Polmacoxib & Paracetamol Tablets: Rs 15.39/1 Tablet
  10. Empagliflozin & Metformin Hydrochloride (ER) Tablets: Rs 9.90/1 Tablet, Rs 18.10/1 Tablet (x4), Rs 19.01/1 Tablet
  11. Empagliflozin & Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets (x2): Rs 17.86/1 Tablet, Rs 11.70/1 Tablet, Rs 18.75/1 Tablet
  12. Empagliflozin, Linagliptin & Metformin Hydrochloride: Rs 29.08/1 Tablet
  13. Empagliflozin, Linagliptin & Metformin Hydrochloride (ER) Tablets (x4): Rs 29.08/1 Tablet, Rs 28.57/1 Tablet, Rs 17.50/1 Tablet, Rs 33.13/1 Tablet
  14. Empagliflozin, Linagliptin & Metformin Hydrochloride (ER) Tablets (x2): Rs 32.43/1 Tablet, Rs 33.13/1 Tablet
  15. Sitagliptin, Glimepiride & Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets (x11): Rs 12.82/1 Tablet
  16. Phenylephrine Hydrochloride & Chlorpheniramine Maleate Syrup: Rs 1.01/1 ml

Notably, the NPPA has stated that if retail prices for any of these medications are not adhered to, the relevant manufacturer or marketing company will be held accountable for the overcharged amount plus interest, as stipulated in the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), 2013 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

As of my latest info, there's no specific update regarding changes in GST rates for these essential medicines. However, it's worth noting that the tax rates for certain cancer drugs, like Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab, have experienced a reduction from 12% to 5% [1][2]. For the most up-to-date information, it's advisable to consult the NPPA's official website or press releases for any relevant GST updates on essential medicines. Tax rates are generally updated through notifications from the GST Council, which governs revisions to tax rates in India.

In light of the new retail prices for essential medicines, the science and health-and-wellness sector now has a clear understanding of the costs for various medications. However, the tax rates for certain health-related products, such as cancer drugs like Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab, have seen a decrease from 12% to 5% in the finance department.

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