Haryana Flags Over 30 Drug Overcharging Cases, Seeks NPPA Action
Chandigarh: The Haryana government has forwarded 33 cases of alleged overcharging of medicines to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in 2025 for further examination and action.
According to a recent media report in The Times of India, the cases involve complaints of medicines being sold above the ceiling prices fixed under the Drug (Prices Control) Order, 2013, and were identified through routine inspections and complaint-based scrutiny carried out by state drug control authorities. The referrals have been made to enable detailed investigation and enforcement under the central pricing mechanism.
The State Health Minister mentioned that the state government is actively monitoring the pricing of medicines to ensure that consumers are not charged more than the notified ceiling price for drugs covered under price control. He emphasised that overcharging, whether by manufacturers, distributors, or retailers, will not be tolerated and that all such violations are being escalated to the appropriate central authority for action.
Under the Drug (Prices Control) Order, 2013, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority is empowered to fix ceiling prices of essential medicines and initiate action against entities found violating pricing norms. Once referred, NPPA can order price corrections, recovery of overcharged amounts, and impose penalties as per provisions of the law.
Officials noted that the state’s action reflects increased vigilance on medicine pricing amid rising public concerns over the cost of treatment. The government has also urged citizens to remain vigilant and report instances of overcharging so that timely action can be taken to protect patient interests.
The Health Minister reiterated that ensuring affordable access to essential medicines remains a key priority of the Haryana government and that strict enforcement of pricing regulations is crucial to prevent undue financial burden on patients, reports The Times of India.
