NPPA Regulated Prices of 2,295 Essential Drugs Over Five Years, Says Govt
New Delhi: In a move to enhance affordability and ensure price regulation of essential medicines, the Government of India has confirmed that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed and notified retail prices of over 2,295 new drugs under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013) in the last five years.
This was stated in a written reply by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, during a recent Rajya Sabha session held on July 22, 2025, in response to a question raised by Dr Bhim Singh regarding the regulation of essential drug prices and their accessibility to the general public.
In her response, the minister confirmed that an effective ceiling price control mechanism is in place through the NPPA to regulate medicines listed under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). She stated:
"The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), notified by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from time to time, is incorporated as Schedule-I to the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013). The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals fixes the ceiling prices of these scheduled medicines in accordance with the provisions of DPCO, 2013. All manufacturers of scheduled medicines are required to sell their products within the ceiling price (plus applicable local taxes) fixed by the NPPA."
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