NPPA Extends Revised Ceiling Price Of Blood Thinning Agent Heparin Till December 31,2022

This came in line with the decision of 102nd Authority meeting held on 27th of September under the Chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Chairman, NPPA where the Extension of revised ceiling price of Heparin Injection 1000lU/ml and 5000lU/ml were discussed.

Medical dialogues team had earlier reported that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had permitted companies to raise the price of Heparin Injection, a critical blood-thinning drug, until December end. NPPA had set the ceiling price of 1,000 International Units Per Millilitre (IU/ml) of heparin injection at Rs 24.39 per ml and 5,000 IU/ml of injection at Rs 60.54 per ml.

Heparin is used as a blood thinner and Heparin Injection 5000IU/ ml has been considered as an essential COVID plus medicine which is widely used for COVID-19 treatment.

The Authority at its recent meeting noted that the revised ceiling price of Heparin Injection 5000IU/ml and 1000 IU/ml fixed vide SO. 2151(E) dated 30.06.2020 were applicable up to 31.12.2020 and the same were extended up to 31.03.2021 vide SO. 4333(E) dated 03.12.2020, then upto 30.09.2021 vide SO. 1236(E) dated 17.03.2021, and then upto 31.03.2022 vide SO. 3935(E) dated 23.09.20 21 and again upto 30.09. 202 2 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, vide SO. IS07 (E) dated 30.03.202 2.

The Authority further noted that since the matter regarding nomination of new Chairman of the Committee to monitor export/import trends of A PIs is under consideration, the import data of Heparin API from the port offices of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) during the period from March 202 2 to August 2022 was obtained from CDSCO and examined by NPPA.

The Authority observed the import prices of Heparin API during the period March 202 2 to August 2022 were in the similar range as that of the earlier period based on which the revised ceiling price was earlier extended.

The Authority deliberated upon the matter in detail and considered the aspect of availability of Heparin injection 10001U/ ml and Heparin injection SOOOIU / ml, a scheduled formulation, essential for COVI D-19 pandemic, since the COVI D-19 pandemic is not fully subdued. Accordingly, the Authority decided that the revised ceiling price of Heparin injection 50001U/ml and 1000 l U/ml fixed vide SO. 2151(E) dated 30.06.2020 and extended vide SO. 4333(E) dated 03.12.2020, SO. 1236(E) dated 17.03.20 21, SO. 3935(E) dated 23.09.2021 and again vide SO. lS07 (E) dated 30.03.2022 to be further extended upto 31.12.2022 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, in public interest.

The Authority further directed that the provisions of para 13 (2) of DPCO 2 013 would not be applicable on the revised ceiling price of Heparin 1000IU/ml injection and Heparin 5000IU/ml injection up to 31.12.2022 or until further order whichever is earlier.

In view of this, NPPA, in its latest notice stated,

"The ceiling prices of Heparin Injection 1000IU/ ml and Heparin Injection5000IU/ ml fixed under Para 19 of the DPCO, 2013 vide notification S.O. 2151(E) dated30.06.2020 valid upto 31.12.2020 which was extended upto 31.03.2021 vide S.O. 4333(E)dated 03.12.2020, then upto 30.09.2021 vide SO. 1236(E) dated 17.03.2021, then upto31.03.2022 vide SO. 3935(E) dated 23.09.2021 and again extended 'upto 30.09.2022 or untilfurther order, whichever is earlier' vide SO. 1507(E) dated 30.03.2022, issued by NationalPharmaceutical Pricing Authority, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals andFertilizers, Government of India are further extended upto 31.12.2022 or until further order,whichever is earlier."

Furthermore, the notice added,

"All the notes and other contents mentioned in the original order S.O. 2151(E) dated30.06.2020 read with extension orders S.O. 4333(E) dated 03.12.2020, S.O. 1236(E) dated17.03.2021, S. O. 3935(E) dated 23.09.2021 and S.O. 1507(E) dated 30.03.2022 shall remain the same and are applicable except that in Para 6, Notes (a) and Note (k) for the phrase "30thSeptember 2022 or until further order, whichever is earlier", it is to be read as "31st December2022 or until further order, whichever is earlier".