Through a recent notification, the apex drug price regulatory agency, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the retail price of 10 drug formulations under the Drugs Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013, exclusive of goods and services tax (GST).
The formulations whose prices have been fixed by NPPA include Metformin, Telmisartan, Rosuvastatin and others in combination with other formulations. A few of the combinations included in the list are Rosuvastatin + Clopidogrel Capsule, Metformin + Glimepiride Tablet (Glyciphage – G 0.5mg), Telmisartan + Amlodipine + Hydrochlorothiazide tablet and so on.
Various drugmakers in the country including Sun Pharma, Intas Pharma, Cipla, Akums Drugs, Cadila Healthcare, Abbott and others are involved in manufacturing the said formulations under different brand names.
For instance, the combination of Metformin + Glimepiride Tablet is sold under the brand name GLYCIPHAGE-G2 which is used to treat Type 2 Diabetes while Rosuvastatin + Clopidogrel Capsule manufactured by Intas Pharma and others is used for heart attack prevention and high cholesterol. It prevents the platelets from sticking together and decreases the formation of harmful blood clots.
Similarly, the combination of Telmisartan + Amlodipine + Hydrochlorothiazide tablet is indicated for the treatment of Hypertension (high blood pressure). The combination is manufactured by Sun Pharma and is sold under the brand name Teleact Trio Tab.
The NPPA notice further added;
The manufacturer of above-mentioned formulations i.e. “new drug” under paragraph 2(u) of the DPCO, 2013 shall fix the retail price as specified in column (6) of the table
The manufacturer may add goods and services tax only if they have paid actually or it is payable to the Government on the retail price mentioned in column (6) of the above-said table.
The retail price for a pack of the aforesaid formulation shall be arrived at by the concerned manufacturer in accordance with the retail price specified in column (6) of the above table as per provisions contained in paragraph 11 of the DPCO, 2013. The manufacturer shall issue a price list in Form–V from date of Notification as per paragraph 24 of the DPCO, 2013 to NPPA through IPDMS and submit a copy to State Drug Controller and dealers.
As per para 24(4) of DPCO 2013, every retailer and dealer shall display price list and the supplementary price list, if any, as furnished by the manufacturer, on a conspicuous part of the premises where he carries on business in a manner so as to be easily accessible to any person wishing to consult the same.
The above mentioned retail price is applicable only to the individual manufacturer / marketer as mentioned above i.e. who have applied for the same by submitting Form-I for price fixation / revision as stipulated under DPCO, 2013 and subject to fulfilment of all the applicable statutory requirements as laid down by the Govt. under relevant statutes/ rules, including manufacturing license permission from the Competent Authority i.e. the Central/State Licensing Authority, as may be applicable, by the concerned manufacturer/marketing companies.
In case the retail price of any of the aforesaid formulations is not complied with, as per instant price notification and notes specified hereinabove, then the concerned manufacturer/marketing company shall be liable to deposit the overcharged amount along with the interest thereon under the provisions of the DPCO, 2013 read with the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Consequent to the issue of ceiling price of such formulation as specified in column (2) of the above table in this notification, the price order(s) fixing ceiling or retail price, if any, issued prior to the above said date of notification, stand(s) superseded