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NEW DELHI: Top selling medicine brands for stress, hypertension, HIV, pain and pneumonia may soon become cheaper. The drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority ( NPPA ) is set to bring in at least 100 new drugs under price control to include combinations, dosages and strengths that are commonly prescribed by doctors and sold by pharmacists.For instance, currently only one strength of Paracetamol is under price control, whereas NPPA has proposed to cap prices of all brands of the medicine as listed in the Indian Pharmacopeia. Similarly, in case of Nelfinavir and Ritonavir, commonly used antiretrovirals in treatment of HIV, the regulator plans to fix prices of tablets along with capsules.The move is significant because this is the second time NPPA has attempted to slash prices of drugs that are outside the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2011. In May, the pricing authority had invoked a public interest clause to reduce prices of 108 medicines. However, it had to withdraw the guidelines after companies approached court and the law ministry opined that using the clause may be out of context.However, official sources say, this time there is political consensus on the issue, mainly ahead of upcoming assembly elections in some states.Currently, the government regulates prices of only 348 medicine formulations or 652 packs as listed in the NLEM. However, the list includes only specific dosages, strengths and combinations of medicine formulation. The regulator is of the view that this loophole does not ensure price regulation of all life saving and essential medicines of mass consumption.The latest move of NPPA is aimed at expanding the span of price control to include medicines dosages, strengths and combinations which are commonly used and have high market share in terms of sales.Recently, the pricing authority conducted a detailed study that revealed presence of certain "anomalies or discrepancies" in specification or description in the NLEM 2011. Following the findings of the study conducted across the country, the NPPA has proposed rectification in the NLEM.The move has created a stir among pharmaceutical companies who are concerned about stressed margins as well as instability promoted through such periodic price changes. "Mass consumption is not a criterion for NLEM. It would be desirable that the selection of drugs is left to the core committee of experts as per the established criteria. The role of the NPPA is to implement the policy in letter and spirit and not create confusion leading to instability," says D G Shah, secretary general, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.According to a senior official in the department of pharma, the proposal for changes in the list of essential medicines has been sent to the health ministry which has the ultimate authority to revise the same. Besides, NPPA has also sought comments from other stakeholders such as patient groups and drug manufacturers.