THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With pharmaceutical companies yet to sell medicines at revised rates, drugs controller has decided to convene a meeting of manufacturers soon. At the proposed meeting, the department will direct manufacturers to sell drugs at revised rates finalised by the Centre.
The reduced price difference after the revision, ranges from Rs 2 to Rs 500 for medicines including those for treating cancer, infections including cold and allergy, epilepsy, gastrointestinal disorders, tumours, fungal infections and immune suppressants. Though the notification was issued by the Centre on June 2, the prices of drugs have not been reduced in most places.
The manufacturers want to exhaust the existing stocks before selling medicines at revised rates. The department officials are not keen on sudden crackdown on medical shops as they fear it could lead to shortage of medicines. The drugs whose prices have been reduced include;
Imatinib tablet: Treats certain types of cancers like acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia and gastrointestinal tumours. It is a chemotherapy drug that works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells. It now costs Rs 213.32 /tablet.
Paracetamol 500 mg - Rs 2/tablet.
Metformin: Immediate release tablet 500 mg to treat Type 2 diabetes - Rs 1.39/tablet.
Pantoprazole injection: To treat stomach and throat problems related to extra stomach acid is Rs 41.32 per pack.
Ceftriaxone powder for injection: Treats bacterial infections in parts of the body. Priced at Rs 22.90/pack
Dicofenac: Anti-inflammatory drug for pain relief Rs 1.77/tablet
Cetirizine: To treat cold and allergy, Rs 1.53/tablet
Phenobarbitone: Anti epileptic medicine, Rs 1.64/tablet
Amoxycillin: To treat different types of infections, 1.68/ml
Fluconazole tablet: To treat fungal infections, Rs 10.99/tablet
Azathioprine: Immuno suppressive drug used in organ transplantation and auto immune diseases, Rs 9.02/tablet.
