The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has implemented a price cut of up to 55% for 54 essential drugs, including those for cancer (brain and breast), hypertension, diabetes, antibiotics and other heart disorders, reported The Times of India. NPPA Chairman Bhupinder Singh said the decision was taken to control prices of drugs that are commonly used for critical diseases.

The drugs whose prices have been reduced include Trastuzumab injection used in treatment of breast cancer, Temozolomide for brain cancer, and various medicines for heart disorders as well as hypertension like Amlodopine, Ramipril, Clopidogrel etc.

The Health Ministry has revised and expanded the list of essential medicines, introducing 191 more drugs eligible for the price cap. The list now contains 875 drugs as opposed to the earlier 684 medicines. The 54 drugs, whose prices were slashed, are from the revised list.

This the second time in the last 15 days that the national regulatory body has reduced prices of drugs on the list. A notification to this effect was issued on Tuesday. Manufacturers, distributors and retailers have been asked to implement the ceiling prices immediately.