Medicine Prices to Soar: Paracetamol and Antibiotics Costlier from April
From April 1, common essential medicines such as paracetamol and antibiotics in India are set to see a slight but notable increase in prices due to rising input costs, affecting over 1,000 drugs on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
Highlights
- •Paracetamol and antibiotics will face price hikes from April 1.
- •Over 1,000 essential medications included in NLEM will be affected.
- •rising input costs due to global conflicts have led to the adjustments.
- •Pharma lobby group calls for a better adjustment than the current rate of 0.6%
Starting April 1, 2026, the prices of common medicines like paracetamol and antibiotics will see a slight hike. According to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), over 1,000 essential medications listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) will experience a 0.6% price increase due to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) change from (+) 0.64956%.
Impact on Vital Medications
The price adjustments include paracetamol for pain relief, azithromycin as an antibiotic against bacterial infections, and various treatments for moderate to severe cases of COVID-19.
NPPA's Statement: The increase is in line with the rising costs due to global supply chains. Notably, glycerin prices have surged by 64%, contributing to a significant overall cost rise across certain medicines and their packaging materials.
Industry Response
The pharmaceutical industry acknowledges that these increases are inevitable given skyrocketing input costs. The price of APIs like paracetamol has risen by 25% recently, while ciprofloxacin saw a more substantial increase of 30%. These hikes impact not just the cost but also drug safety and accessibility.
A pharma lobby representative expressed concern over the minimal adjustments, noting that ongoing conflicts like Iran's have heightened costs significantly. They will present their case to NPPA for further consideration, emphasizing the need for higher price changes.
