The central government has made a significant decision regarding the cost of medications. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, known as NPPPA, has set the maximum retail price for 39 new drugs. This decree was issued in accordance with the 2013 Drug Price Control Decree.
List and Purpose of Medicines
The list includes drugs used to treat diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, infections, vision problems, breathing difficulties, and cancer. This notification was published on July 8. Among the medicines whose prices were set are the injectable drug Tenecteplase, oral solution of Vitamin D3, oral solution of Imatinib, combination drugs related to Ampagliflozin, Telmisartan combination, capsules with Aspirin and Atorvastatin, and combination drugs with Clopidogrel.
Requirements for Companies and Price Regulation
According to the NPPPA directive, no pharmaceutical company is allowed to sell these medicines at a price exceeding the established maximum cost. All manufacturers must provide information about the new price to their dealers and state drug regulators, as well as send an updated price list. This ensures that the information is available in pharmacies and hospitals, allowing patients to purchase medications at a fair price.
The order also clearly stipulates that companies can add VAT to the drug price only if this VAT has actually been paid to the government or its payment is planned. Companies are prohibited from raising prices by arbitrarily including VAT. NPPPA warned that any company charging more than the set price must refund the excess amount with interest. These actions will be carried out under the Drug Price Control Decree and the Essential Goods Law. The government's goal is to ensure that necessary medicines are accessible to ordinary people at reasonable prices, preventing unjustified charges to patients.