800 Essential Medicines, Including Paracetamol, To Get Costlier From April

Prices To Rise By 10.7 %

On Friday, The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority of India announced an increment in the prices of 800 medicines. The price is hiked by a 10.7 percent change in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the calendar year 2021 over the corresponding period in 2020.

According to the information, 800 essential medicines include one of the common tablets 'paracetamol'. This was the most used tablet for the common cold and was in high demand during the Covid pandemic in India.

According to the Notice given by NPPA it said, "Based on the WPI data provided by the office of the Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the annual change in WPI works out as 10.76607% during the calendar year 2021 over the corresponding period in 2020."

Further, it said, ``This is brought to the notice of all concerned for further action as per the provisions of Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013,” read the notice.

As per the information, Now the prices of medicines used to treat fever, infections, heart diseases, high blood pressure, skin diseases, and anemia will increase. This includes drugs like Paracetamol, Phenobarbitone, Phenytoin Sodium, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride, and Metronidazole.

Covid-19 cases in India have led to a high demand for medicine. Few medicines have become scarce during the Covid-19 peak. India witnessed a surge in daily cases during the pandemic for which stocks for medicines were being maintained by everyone.