On 8 July 2026 the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority fixed retail prices for 39 drug formulations under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
Legal and institutional basis
- Statute: DPCO, 2013 issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
- Regulator: NPPA is a statutory price regulator under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers.
- Procedural provisions: Paragraphs 5, 11 and 15 of DPCO, 2013 provide the framework for fixation of retail prices of new formulations.
Order mechanics and compliance
- Tax treatment: Notified prices apply exclusive of GST.
- Reporting: Manufacturers must update prices via the Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System (IPDMS) and dispatch copies to State Drug Controllers and trade.
- Retail obligation: Dealers/retailers required to display notified price lists at premises.
Therapeutic coverage and sample prices
- Therapies covered: Formulations for hypertension, diabetes, HIV, cardiovascular disease, oncology, neurology, infections, pain and vitamin deficiencies.
- Tenecteplase (TNK-tPA): Thrombolytic agent; retail price notified at Rs 60,238.27 per vial.
- Antihypertensive combo: A reported fixed retail price example — Rs 14.74 per tablet for an Amlodipine/Bisoprolol/Telmisartan combination.
Enforcement
- Legal remedy: Enforcement actions under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
- Penalty: Non-compliance may require deposit of overcharged amounts with applicable interest.
- Order type: Price fixation order for new formulations is procedurally distinct from a price-reduction order.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- NPPA functions: Fixes/revises prices of scheduled formulations, monitors compliance and implements DPCO orders.
- Market-based pricing: DPCO, 2013 adopts market-based ceiling pricing for scheduled formulations (ceiling derived from average of eligible brands per prescribed criteria).
- IPDMS: Central digital platform for price notifications and compliance filings.