Bitter, better pill

The drug price hike-though a strain on essential to cover the consumers-is loss of manufacturers and for quality control, say experts

- AKANKI SHARMA

In January 2022, Gurugram resident Rajni Sahdev, 63, underwent a bypass surgery. While her heart is healthier now, it sinks every time she sees her medical bill. “Her medicines cost between ₹2,500 and ₹2,800 per month,” says son Manish, an HR professional. “There cannot be any compromise in matters of health, but the cost of medicines seems like a burden at times.”

Running out of funds every month is a constant worry for Manish, 35, as he juggles several responsibilities including taking care of his two-year-old son. “Everything is getting expensive,” he says. “My mother needs to undergo a knee replacement surgery as well, but since the costs involved are too high, we are not rushing into it. We don’t know when we will be able to get the procedure done.”

Rajni’s current prescription includes Udiliv, Bemdac and Roseday 10 to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease, Emildap to control high blood sugar and Razo to relieve acidity. None of these falls under the Union health ministry’s list of essential medicines, the prices of which are regulated by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). The World Health Organization (WHO) has a list of essential medicines to meet health care needs around the world. Likewise, the NPPA, which comes under the Union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, too, has a national list of essential medicines (NLEM). The NPPA caps the ceiling price of essential medicines under schedule I of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013. The DPCO provides for an annual hike in drug prices based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), which represents the price of goods sold in bulk by trade organisations and is used as a measure of inflation in some countries.