SHEFALI CHATURVEDI
Ranchi, Sept 20: The price of our food items has not only increased but there is inflation in the price of various drugs too. The price of various day –to- day usable drugs has increased in one year which is putting a great pressure on the pocket of common people. Most of the people in the country are suffering from various health related problems like Blood pressure, thyroid, sugar, etc… and the increase in price of these drugs will put a big impact on the budget of the people.
According to a report , there is an upsurge between 12% to 50% on various medicines used in our daily life like –paracetamol(18%), citrizen (12%),Loperamide (50%), Azithromycine (15%), Thyroxin (20%), Zincovit (25%) ,etc.
| Drug | Percentage change | Name of drug with price |
| Drug for fever | 18% | Paracetamol (Rs-10.42 per strip) |
| Drug for diarrhea | 50% | Loperamide (RS 19.29 Per strip) |
| Drug for cold | 12% | Citrizen (Rs-17 per strip) |
| Cough syrup | 15% | Biocof Mint (124, |
| Drug for vomiting | 10% | Omit md (Rs-47 per strip) |
| Drug for digestion | 20% | Bijam (Rs 47 per strip) |
| Antacids | 20% | Enzar Forte (Rs 126.61 per strip) |
| Antibiotic | 15%
|
Azithromycine (Rs -76 per strip) |
| Drug for diabetes | 12% | Metformin (Rs-20) |
| Drug for blood pressure | 20% | Biodipin (Rs -27) |
| Drug for thyroid | 20% | Thyroxin (Rs-110 per strip) |
| Multivitamin | 25% | Zincovit (Rs-70 per strip) |
According to the annual report of the Department of Pharmaceuticals Total Annual Turnover of Pharmaceuticals was Rs. 2, 89,998 crore for the year 2019-2020. Total pharmaceutical exports and imports were to the tune of Rs. 1, 46,260 crore and Rs. 42,943 crore respectively in the year 2019-20.
Medicine spending in India is projected to grow 9-12% over the next five years, leading India to become one of the top 10 countries in terms of medicine spending.
Going forward, better growth in domestic sales would also depend on the ability of companies to align their product portfolio towards chronic therapies for diseases such as cardiovascular, anti-diabetes, antidepressants and anti-cancers, which are on the rise.
The Indian Government has taken many steps to reduce costs and bring down healthcare expenses. Speedy introduction of generic drugs into the market has remained in focus and is expected to benefit the Indian pharmaceutical companies. In addition, the thrust on rural health programmes, lifesaving drugs and preventive vaccines also augurs well for the pharmaceutical companies.
