The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority of India has announced a 10.7 per cent change in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the calendar year 2021 over the corresponding period in 2020. This means that the prices of nearly 800 sched-uled medicines on the National List of Essential Medicines, which are used to treat the majority of common ailments, will rise by 10.7 percent beginning April 1.
“Based on the WPI data provided by the office of the Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the annual change in WPI works out as 10.76607% during the calendar year 2021 over the corresponding period in 2020,” the NPPA notice said.
Now the prices of medicines used to treat fever, infections, heart diseases, high blood pressure, skin diseases and anaemia will increase. This includes drugs like Paracetamol, Phenobarbitone, Phenytoin Sodium, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride and Metronidazole.—AP
