Vaccines Price Hike: The government has approved the increase in the prices of some important vaccines given to children. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) decided to revise the prices of these vaccines in its 147th meeting. These include BCG, Measles and MR (Measles-Rubella) vaccines. These three vaccines are considered an essential part of the national vaccination program to protect children from serious and deadly diseases.

In such a situation, the concern of parents has increased due to increase in their prices. Experts say that parents do not need to worry about changes in prices. In such a situation, let us know why this decision was taken and what effect it can have on people.

Which vaccine prices increased?

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has approved the amendment in the ceiling price of BCG, Measles and MR vaccines. BCG vaccine is given to children after birth to protect them from serious diseases like TB. Whereas measles and MR vaccines protect children from measles and rubella infections, which can sometimes cause serious complications.

Why are these vaccines important for children?

1.BCG Vaccine – This vaccine helps in protecting the new born baby from severe forms of TB. It is applied immediately after birth or in the initial days.

2. Measles Vaccine – Measles is a highly contagious disease, which can cause high fever, rash, pneumonia and sometimes even mental health problems. In such a situation, timely vaccination keeps children safe from this.

3. MR (Measles- Rubella) Vaccine – This vaccine protects against measles as well as rubella. Rubella infection in pregnant women can cause serious problems in the child born. Therefore its vaccination is considered very important.

Why were the prices increased?

According to NPPA, the number of companies producing these vaccines is limited and due to increasing costs, it was becoming challenging to maintain their manufacturing and supply. In such a situation, if the prices are not revised, their availability could be affected in future. The authority says that the purpose of increasing the price is not to benefit the companies, but to ensure that the supply of essential vaccines in the country is not disrupted and the vaccination of children is not affected.

Two important cancer medicines also became expensive

Apart from children’s vaccine, NPPA has also approved increase by 50 percent in the ceiling price of two essential chemotherapy drugs Carboplatin and Cisplatin used in the treatment of cancer. According to the authority, this decision has been taken in view of the increase in the prices of raw materials and the possibility of supply being affected. There were continuous fluctuations and increases in the prices of raw materials i.e. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) used in the manufacturing of cancer medicines.

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Anti-tetanus injection also became expensive

The prices of anti-tetanus immunoglobulin injections have also been increased by 50 percent. The companies manufacturing these injections of 250 IU and 500 IU capacity were saying for a long time that due to the increasing cost, it is becoming difficult for them to produce them.

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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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If you or someone in your family is suffering from diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease or bone weakness, then this news is useful for you. The government has fixed the maximum prices of 30 essential medicines, which have to be taken daily or for a long time. This means that now no medicine shopkeeper can charge even one rupee more than the fixed MRP on these medicines. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority i.e. NPPA has now issued an order on 27 May 2026.

What is the real problem of expensive medicines?

The biggest complaint regarding the price of medicines in India is that the same medicine is sold in the market under different brand names at very different prices. The medicine which is available for Rs 15 at one shop is available for Rs 40 at another shop. The patient does not know what is the correct price and is forced to buy only the brand prescribed by the doctor. Apart from this, the medicines which are new, or whose price has not yet been fixed by the government, companies can sell them at whatever price they want. This is the reason why in case of chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease, the medicine bill reaches thousands of rupees every month.

What will change now?

After this order of NPPA, the government itself has decided the MRP of these 30 medicines. Now no matter which company or shop it is, these medicines cannot be charged more than the fixed price. If a shopkeeper charges more then he is breaking the law and action can be taken against him.

Which medicine for which disease will be available at how much?

• For diabetic patients, the combo tablet of Vildagliptin and Metformin will no longer be sold at more than Rs 9.79 per tablet.
• The tablets of Sitagliptin, Glimepiride and Metformin have been fixed at Rs 10.39 to Rs 11.91 per tablet.
• The combo tablet of Teneligliptin and Dapagliflozin has been fixed at Rs 10.17. These medicines have to be taken daily, so if you calculate 30 tablets in a month, then you will not have to pay more than Rs 300 to 360 at the fixed price.
• For heart and blood pressure patients, the combo of Bisoprolol and Amlodipine has been fixed at Rs 7.31 to Rs 9.40 per tablet.
• Cilnidipine and Telmisartan tablets have been fixed at Rs 12.98 to Rs 14.95. Cholesterol medicines of Atorvastatin and Fenofibrate have been fixed at Rs 18.46 per tablet.
• Vitamin D3 Oral Solution for bones and nutritional deficiency has been fixed at Rs 14.91 to Rs 15.88 per ml. The combined tablet of Calcium, Vitamin D3, Methylcobalamin and L-Methylfolate Calcium has been fixed at Rs 19.78.
• The MRP of Tacrolimus Prolonged Release Capsule, given after kidney or liver transplant, has been fixed at Rs 127 per capsule, which is considered a very expensive medicine and fixing its price is a big relief for transplant patients.
• Bilastine and Montelukast tablets for allergy and asthma have been fixed at Rs 21.22 and Paracetamol, Phenylephrine and Chlorpheniramine tablets for fever and pain have been fixed at just Rs 5.15.

What can you do?

While buying medicine, definitely check the MRP written on the strip or box. If the shopkeeper is asking more than the MRP then you can refuse. According to NPPA rules, it is necessary to post a price list at every medicine shop. If you want to make a complaint, you can visit NPPA website nppa.gov.in or lodge a complaint in the state drug controller office. This order is from Akums Drugs, Alkem Wellness, Zydus Lifesciences, Ipca Laboratories, Dr. Applicable to big companies like Reddy’s Laboratories, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Mankind Pharma and Macleods Pharmaceuticals.

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Medicines pris increases in fY 2025-26: The financial year 2025-26 has started in the country from 1 April i.e. today and the increase in prices of 900 essential medicines has also come into force from the very first day of the new financial year i.e. on Tuesday (April 1, 2025). The National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) has announced an increase of up to 1.74 percent in the prices of more than 900 essential medicines. The list of drugs with these increased prices includes medicines for diseases like critical infection, heart disease, diabetes.

Minister replied in Lok Sabha

Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel gave a written reply to the increase in the price of medicines in the Lok Sabha. In his written reply, he said, “According to the provisions of Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013), all scheduled drug prices are amended every year based on wholesale Price Index (WPI) (all commodities). The rate of 0.00551 percent was increased. ”

He said, “NPPA has fixed the retail prices of new drugs, according to DPCO’s paragraph 2 (1) (U).

Which drug prices increased,

According to a report by Financial Express, the price of 250mg and 500mg of Antibiotic Agethromycin has been fixed at Rs 11.87 and Rs 23.98 per tablet respectively.

• The price of dry syrup containing amoxicillin and cleavulonic acid has been fixed at Rs 2.09 per milliliter.
• The maximum price of diclofenac (pen keeper) has been fixed at Rs 2.09 per tablet.
• Ibruprofen (pen keeper)

– 200 mg: 0.72 rupees per tablet

– 400 mg: 1.22 rupees per tablet

• The price of diabetes drugs (Depagliflose + metformin + hydrochloride + glimpyride) has been prescribed around 12.74 per tablet.
• Esiclovir (antiviral)

– 200 mg: Rs 7.74 per tablet

– 400 Mg: Rs 13.90 per tablet

• Hydroxychloro

– 200 mg: Rs 6.47 per tablet

– 400 Mg: Rs 14.04 per tablet has been fixed.

Drug manufactures can increase medicines prices

However, drug manufactures can increase the maximum retail prices of these drugs based on WPI without any acceptance of the central government.