Image has been used for representation purpose only. , Photo Credit: Rao GN
Members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA)-Telangana State said that it is sad to hear that the prices of 384 essential drugs and over 1,000 formulations will increase by more than 11% due to the sharp rise in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI). Saturday.
This price hike from April 1 means consumers will have to spend more for routine and essential medicines, including painkillers, anti-infectives, cardiac drugs and other essential drugs.
“The increase will put a huge burden on the health of the poor patients as well as their survival. IMA-Telangana President BN Rao said, it is the responsibility of both the central and state governments to ensure availability and affordability of essential and life-saving medicines to the poor people.
The IMA-Telangana State Chapter has urged the Center not to take a “hasty decision” to increase the price of essential medicines.
IMA-Telangana Honorary Secretary J. Vijay Rao said that the price hike is the highest since the Drug Price Control Order of 2013 and this is the second consecutive year when the WPI is higher than the permitted price hike for non-scheduled formulations.
“Such a steep hike will distort the price control on essential medicines. Therefore, IMA-Telangana urges the State Government to intervene in the interest of maintaining the affordability of these medicines. Such one after the other price hike is diluting the very purpose of pricing of essential medicines and it puts a heavy burden on the health and survival of the common man.