“Based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) data provided by the office of the Economic Advisor, Department of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the annual change in WPI works out as (+)0.64956% during the calendar year 2025 over the corresponding period in 2024,” said the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
The adjusted prices will cover more than 1,000 drugs on NLEM.
Price changes for scheduled drugs are allowed once a year.
The list of essential medicines includes drugs like paracetamol, antibiotics such as azithromycin used to treat bacterial infections, anti-anaemia medicines, vitamins and minerals. Some drugs used for treating moderately to severely-ill Covid-19 patients and steroids are also on the list.
The marginal increase comes at a time when spiralling input costs due to the Iran war have severely squeezed sector margins, said a pharma industry executive.
Prices of some key active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and solvents have risen substantially due to the ongoing war and this increase will hardly help, according to industry experts.For instance, prices of APIs have increased 30-35% on average in the past few weeks. The price of glycerine has surged 64%, while that of paracetamol has increased 25% and ciprofloxacin has turned 30% costlier. The price of packaging materials such as polyvinyl chloride and aluminium foil has also gone up 40%, said industry executives.
“Glycerine, propylene glycol, solvents used in every liquid preparation including syrups, oral drops and sterile preparations have become costlier. Prices of intermediates have also gone up substantially. Keeping this in view, we need a better hike and will present our case before the NPPA, a representative from a pharma lobby group said on condition of anonymity.
