There is bad news for crores of common people in the country. Today, i.e. from April 1, the prices of more than 900 essential medicines have increased by 1.74 percent. This increase will increase the cost of medicines for the common man and the savings will decrease. The medicines that will become expensive today also include medicines for infection, diabetes, and heart disease.

Let us tell you that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), a department working under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers of the Central Government, fixes the prices of essential medicines. The price of essential medicines is increased or decreased keeping in mind the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) of the previous year.

So let us know the prices of which essential medicines will increase and what effect it will have on your health and pocket. No need for prior government permission to increase the price of medicines

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NPPA said in a statement, “During the year 2024, a change of (+) 1.74028% was recorded in WPI as compared to the year 2023. Drug manufacturers can increase the maximum retail price of scheduled formulations based on this WPI and prior permission of the government will not be required in this regard.” After this decision, now pharmaceutical companies will be able to increase the prices of these medicines without any prior permission, which will directly affect the consumers.

Malaria, antiviral, and antibiotic medicines will be expensive

After this order of the government, the price of antibiotic azithromycin will be ₹ 11.87 (250 mg) and ₹ 23.98 (500 mg) per tablet. Antibacterial dry syrup with the formulation of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid will be available at ₹ 2.09 per ml. Antiviral drugs like acyclovir will cost ₹7.74 (200 mg) and ₹13.90 (400 mg) per tablet. Similarly, hydroxychloroquine, used to treat malaria, will cost ₹6.47 (200 mg) and ₹14.04 (400 mg) per tablet. The increase in the prices of these essential drugs will put pressure on the common man’s health budget.

Painkillers will also become expensive

The maximum price of pain-relieving drug Diclofenac will now be ₹2.09 per tablet, while Ibuprofen tablets will cost ₹0.72 (200 mg) and ₹1.22 (400 mg) per tablet. The NPPA has approved the increase in the prices of more than 1000 medicines present in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). The increase in the prices of these commonly used medicines will further increase the expenditure of the common man on medicines, especially for those who are already suffering from health problems.

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