Kolkata: Medicines with revised prices have started reaching the city market. With stocks sporting old MRP still in the market, retailers are now finding it difficult to convince buyers to go for the new ones.
In Oct, prices of nearly 20 medicines went up after the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority decided to fix the retail price of these drugs. It was the third hike in medicine prices in the last year. In an Oct 14 notification, the authority fixed prices of 20 formulations, including those used for high blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride. Prices of medicines used as muscle relaxants were also increased. The notification came on the day the govt approved a price increase of another 11 scheduled formulations, causing almost a 50% hike in the price of eight medicines.
Ferrous Ascorbate and Folic Acid tablets now sell for Rs 189 per strip of 10 tablets, up from Rs 172.50 earlier.; Amlodipine and Atenolol tablet strips have a new MRP of Rs 242 per strip against Rs 220 earlier; Salmeterol and Fluticasone Propionate inhaler prices changed to Rs 887 from Rs 806.39.
"This will increase the monthly budget of consumers as many medicines are used on a regular basis. New batches with changed MRP have started coming in," said Prithvi Bose, general secretary of the Bengal Chemists and Druggists' Association (BCDA).
"Last Nov, we saw an increase in prices of over-the-counter medicines after the Delhi High Court order restricting the govt from regulating price of non-scheduled formulations," said Rajiv Singhal, general secretary of All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).
Medicine retailers have started to worry about the reaction of consumers. "It is difficult to convince customers as not all the shops have the old stock. Those with a new stock will sell medicines at the new prices while those with old stock will continue to sell at a lower price," said Somnath Ghosh of Metro Pharma.
"Market dynamics have changed. I have been in the trade for nearly five decades. Earlier, consumers were sensitive about even small changes in price. Now, people have started accepting price fluctuations. But such hikes become difficult for retired persons who are more dependent on medicines," said Sekhar Saha of Allied Medical.