Relief for Patients as Centre Fixes Prices of 42 Essential Medicines
Odisha health experts say move will help poor and rural patients access critical drugs
Bhubaneswar : The Central Government has announced a major relief for patients across India by fixing the retail prices of 42 commonly used medicines, including life-saving antibiotics and drugs used post-organ transplantation. Odisha’s health sector stakeholders have welcomed the move, stressing that it will particularly benefit poor and rural households who often struggle with high medical costs.
Price Control for Critical Drugs
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped the prices of key medicines to ensure affordability. For instance, the price of Meropenem and Sulbactam injection, widely used to treat severe bacterial infections and prevent organ rejection after transplants, has been fixed at ₹1,938.59 per vial. Similarly, Mycophenolate Mofetil, used for transplant patients, is now priced at ₹131.58 per tablet.
Another important inclusion is Clarithromycin extended-release tablets by Abbott Healthcare, used for bacterial infections, which will now retail at ₹71.71 per tablet. Officials explained that such measures are designed to prevent pharmacies from overcharging patients for essential treatments.
Mandatory Display of Price List
Earlier in February this year, NPPA directed all drug manufacturers to submit updated price lists to both state drug regulators and the central government. The latest order also makes it mandatory for retailers and distributors to publicly display the fixed price lists at easily visible locations in pharmacies.
“This provision is to empower common citizens,” said an NPPA official. “Patients will be able to check whether they are being charged the correct price.”
Odisha’s Rural Patients to Benefit
Health experts in Odisha believe that this initiative will be particularly impactful in the state, where large sections of the population live in rural and tribal belts. In these areas, medical expenses often push families into debt.
“Odisha sees a high number of kidney and liver transplant patients referred to major cities. The capped prices of post-transplant medicines like Mycophenolate will bring massive relief,” said a health expert
He added that antibiotics like Meropenem are often prescribed in critical care cases in district hospitals, where families find it extremely difficult to purchase full courses due to high costs. “With capped pricing, treatment completion will improve, which means better health outcomes,” health expert said.
Tackling Overpricing in Pharmacies
For many years, patients in Odisha, especially in remote districts, have complained of paying higher prices than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for essential drugs. By mandating public display of price lists, authorities hope to curb such irregularities.
Consumer rights activist Shanti Das from Sambalpur said the measure would reduce exploitation. “Pharmacies in small towns often add arbitrary charges, knowing patients have no alternatives. A visible government-approved price list will help stop this malpractice,” she said.
A Step Towards Affordable Healthcare
The decision comes at a time when Odisha is also working to strengthen its public health infrastructure, including free medicine schemes in government hospitals. Analysts believe that aligning central pricing regulations with state-level welfare initiatives will enhance accessibility.
Experts also highlight that affordable pricing of antibiotics will support Odisha’s fight against rising bacterial infections and prevent partial treatments that lead to drug resistance.
While the price cap is expected to benefit lakhs of patients, proper enforcement will be the key challenge. Officials must ensure that pharmacies in both urban and rural Odisha comply with the display norms and sell medicines at regulated prices.
If implemented effectively, the initiative has the potential to significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for patients and provide a much-needed cushion to families battling chronic and critical illnesses.
