India's 50% drug price hike faces backlash, NPPA under fire

India's Parliamentary panel has come down heavily on the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and directed it to provide a detailed report explaining the recent 50% price increase on 11 essential drug formulations. The directive comes amid concerns over the rising cost of medicines, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

The 50% price increase affects medications used in the treatment of asthma, glaucoma, thalassemia, tuberculosis, and mental health disorders, many of which are considered first-line treatments crucial for public health programmes.

The NPPA, responsible for regulating drug prices in India, approved the price hike mid-October 2024, citing 'extraordinary powers in public interest' to ensure the availability of these pharmaceuticals. The move has, however, drawn flak, with the Parliamentary panel questioning the NPPA's price regulation mechanisms.