The retail prices have been reduced for two formulation packs on account of the decrease in the notified price of the bulk drug rifampicin. The retail prices have been fixed for the first time for six formulation packs of five companies.

The maximum retail price includes MAPE of 100 per cent on ex-factory cost for indigenous formulation and 50 per cent on imported finished formulations.Of the 26 formulation packs, ceiling prices have been fixed in respect of 3 packs and non-ceiling prices in respect of 23 packs.

Through another order, NPPA has reduced the prices of two bulk drugs namely, metronidazole and metronidazole bezoate. Metronidazole will now priced at Rs 469 per kg as against earlier price of Rs 516 per kg. The bulk drug, metronidazole benzoate will also be priced less at Rs 428 per kg as compared to the ealier price of Rs502 per kg.

The reduction in prices of these bulk drugs have been worked out after examination of the report of the Bureau of Industrial Costs and Prices (BICP). The updated rates of major raw materials and utilities based on personal hearing of the companies, documentary evidences and details of purchases subsequently furnished by the concerned manufacturers of the said bulk grugs have also been taken into account.

Of the 6 new cases of retail price fixation are the price of odoxil DS dry syrup of Lupin Labrotary which is fixed at Rs 33.23 per unit pack of 30 ml, price of 3FD tablets of Litaka Pharma which is fixed at Rs 70.30 per unit pack, caviter tablet of Merind Ltd which is fixed at Rs 29.21 per unit pack, caviter forte tablet of Merind Ltd which is fixed at Rs 70.30 per unit pack and bycold tablet of Parenteral Drugs which is priced at Rs 8.63 per unit pack. All these prices has been fixed with non-ceiling limit.

In case of huminsulin 30/70 injection imported by Eli-Lilly Ranbaxy Ltd, the pricehas been raised to Rs 209.94 per unit pack of 10 ml vial from Rs 180 with non-ceiling limit.

As cases of revision of prices under ceiling limits, the price of prednisolone tablet (10 mg) has been raised to Rs 10.34 per unit pack of 10's GP St, the price of prednisolone tablet (20 mg) has been raised to Rs 20.25 per unit pack of 10's Al/St and that of prednisolone tablet (20mg) has been raised to Rs 12.15 per unit pack of 6's Al/St.

The two cases of reduction in retail prices under non-ceiling limits are rcinex 150 DT tablet which is priced at Rs 20.64 in place of Rs 21.73 per unit pack of 10's Al/ST and that of rcinex 150 DT tablet which is priced at Rs 20.22 in place of Rs 21.40 per unit pack of 10's Al/BL. Both these tablets are manufactured by Lupin Laboratories.

All other 15 cases of revision of prices with non-ceiling limits are for increase in retail prices. They include several formulations of different unit pack sizes of different companies like Handard (Wakf) Lab, Hoechst Marion Roussel andTorrent Pharmaceuticals.

The prices will become effective within 15 days from the date of notification in the official gazattee.

In the case of formulations, the manufacturers and importers are required to issue the necessary revised price list. They are also required to work out the prices of different pack sizes. All manufacturers who utilise the aforesaid bulk drugs in their scheduled formulations are required under Drugs Price Control Order, 1995 to submit their applications for price fixation of all such formulations within 30 days from the date of notification.

The prices has been fixed by NPPA basing on the established criteria and guidelines.