(Udaipur Kiran): The Central Government has fixed the retail prices of 42 commonly used medicines, a move aimed at providing relief to patients and curbing overcharging in pharmacies. The order has been issued by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).

Among the medicines included are Meropenem & Sulbactam Injection (Zydus Healthcare) — a broad-spectrum antibiotic — and Mycophenolate Mofetil Tablets (Ipca Laboratories), used to prevent organ rejection after transplants.

• Meropenem & Sulbactam Injection: ₹1,938.59 per vial

• Mycophenolate Mofetil Tablets: ₹131.58 per tablet

• Clarithromycin Extended-Release Tablets (Abbott Healthcare, used to treat bacterial infections): ₹71.71 per tablet

The NPPA had earlier directed all manufacturers to submit the price list to dealers, state drug controllers, and the government. In its latest order, the authority has instructed that every retailer and dealer must publicly display the official price list and supplementary list at a clearly visible location. The same rules will also apply to online and virtual pharmacies.

An official explained that this step will help citizens verify whether pharmacies are selling medicines strictly at NPPA-approved rates.

Experts believe the decision will bring significant relief to patients struggling with the high cost of essential medicines and will also help curb unfair profiteering in the pharmaceutical retail sector.