Prices of 509 essential drugs hiked; high costs force 52 % Indians to self-medication

The central government has allowed pharmaceutical companies to hike prices of 509 essential medicines amidst reports that 52 per cent Indians avoid going to doctors because of the costly drugs they prescribe, and instead resort to self-medication.

Pharmaceutical companies in the country have raised prices of essential medicines used in the treatment of various ailments like diabetes, hepatitis and cancer by 3.84 per cent effective 1 April.

''As confirmed by the economic adviser (minister of commerce and industry), the annual increase in the wholesale price index (WPI) works out at 3.84 per cent during calendar year 2014 over the corresponding period in 2013,'' NPPA said in a notification.

The price hikes follow a notification issued by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) allowing for hike in prices of drugs in line with the wholesale price index of 2014 under the Drug Price Control Order, 2013.

A survey conducted by Lybrate, a doctor-patient end-to-end communication platform, has revealed that over 52 per cent Indians indulge in self-medication either due to time constraints or for doing away with high cost of treatment, a practice that increase the health risks

The survey participating over 20,000 respondents across 10 cities across India was undertaken to assess the extent of self-medication in the country.

Meanwhile, numerous studies worldwide have shown that the use of un-prescribed medicines time and again make the body resistant to antibiotics.

Besides, there have been instances of such medication causing health problems ranging from liver damage, stroke and ulcers to kidney failure, miscarriage and diarrhoea, among others.

Sometimes, the damage gets irreversible and self-medication becomes a bigger problem then.

The 509 medicines which have become costlier include Alpha Interferon injection used to treat hepatitis B and C as well as certain types of cancer, carboplatin injection used for cancer treatment, fluconazole capsules indicated for fungal infections, among others.

The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) welcomed the decision, saying, pharmaceutical companies rarely get a chance to hike prices.

According to the notification, antibiotics which have Amoxicillin capsules have also become costlier with effect from 1 April. At present, the government caps prices of a total of 348 essential medicines based on the simple average of all medicines in a particular therapeutic segment with sales of more than 1 per cent.

While the government regulates prices of all other medicines, companies are allowed to hike prices of such drugs by up to 10 per cent in a year. The government had notified DPCO, 2013, which covers 680 formulations, with effect from 15 May 2014, replacing the 1995 order that regulated prices of only essential drugs.