Med price change: Hypertension, diabetes treatment cost to go up
Times of India | 8 March 2025
Kolkata: The prices of 53 medicines, including a large number of formulations used to treat diabetes, have been revised following an order from the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). According to city pharmaceutical retailers, prices of nearly 20 medicines used in diabetes treatment are likely to go up after the new prices come into effect. This is the second change in medicine prices in the last two months.
Out of the 53 formulations mentioned in the NPPA order dated March 5, 2025, 26 are molecules of dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, sitagliptin and linagliptin. These molecules are used primarily in the treatment of type II diabetes.
The price of a combination drug of empagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride, which is sold for Rs 437 for a strip, is likely to be increased to Rs 480. The price of a combination drug of dapagliflozin, metformin hydrochloride, and linagliptin, which was earlier sold for Rs 209 per strip, remains unchanged.
Simliarly, the price of a combination drug of telmisartan, cilnidipine, and metoprolol, used for the treatment of hypertension, which is sold for Rs 164 per strip, is likely to increase to Rs 175. Another formulation of the anti-inflammatory drug Ibuprofen and paracetamol is likely to remain unchanged at Rs 55.
"There are some medicines that are likely to see a price cut as well. The increase, we feel, is in tune with the normal changes in the price of raw material or API (active pharmaceutical ingredient). The new stock will arrive only after the pipeline stocks are exhausted," said Rajiv Singhal, general secretary of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).
In Feb this year, 42 formulations, including a number of anti-diabetes combination medicines like sitagliptin, dapagliflozin, glimepiride, metformin hydrochloride and empagliflozin, among others, were affected. Prices of formulations like telmisartan, chlorthalidone (used to treat high blood pressure), and cilnidipine (used for treating hypertension) were also changed.
According to Prithwi Bose, general secretary of the Bengal Chemists and Druggists Association (BCDA), medicines with the new MRP will take around three months to reach the city market. "A bulk of anti-diabetic medicines has seen price correction in the current list of NPPA. We are expecting another change in the prices by April this year," Bose said.
"There are consecutive changes in prices for medicines like sitagliptin, dapagliflozin, metformin hydrochloride, and telmisartan. It will be beneficial for the consumers if the changes of similar molecules are announced on a single list," said Somnath Ghosh of Metro Pharma.