**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary inquiry (Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1148) regarding the sale of medicines at prices exceeding those fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). The response, provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, confirms that the NPPA monitors medicine prices and takes action against companies found overcharging consumers, in accordance with the Drugs Prices Control Order, 2013.
Between March 31, 1979, and March 31, 2025, the NPPA initiated action in 2,605 cases of overcharging. The total overcharged amount, including interest and penalties, was ₹9,950.10 crore. Of this amount, ₹1,418.80 crore has been recovered from the companies involved. The NPPA does not maintain state-wise data on overcharging cases. However, a detailed list of overcharging cases where demand notices have been issued is available on the NPPA website: www.nppa.gov.in.
Key Entities Referenced
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority: A government regulatory agency in India that controls the prices of pharmaceutical drugs.
NPPA: Abbreviation for National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.
Shri Azad Kirti Jha: Member of Parliament who raised a question regarding the sale of medicines at higher prices.
Shri Chandra Prakash Choudhary: Member of Parliament who raised a question regarding the sale of medicines at higher prices.
Shri Sanatan Pandey: Member of Parliament who raised a question regarding the sale of medicines at higher prices.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
Drugs Prices Control Order, 2013: A legal framework in India that empowers the NPPA to regulate the prices of essential medicines.
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS: The government ministry responsible for pharmaceuticals.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1148
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25th JULY, 2025
Sale of Medicines at Higher Price
†1148. Shri Azad Kirti Jha:
Shri Chandra Prakash Choudhary:
Shri Sanatan Pandey:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether some pharmaceutical companies are selling medicines at prices higher than
the price fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA);
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether the NPPA has taken any action or issued notices against such companies till
date; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the outcomes of the same?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND
FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) to (d): The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) monitors the prices of
medicines on an ongoing basis and wherever pharmaceutical companies are found to be
overcharging the consumer in sale of medicine, it initiates action against such companies in
accordance with the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
During the period from 31.3.1979 to 31.3.2025, NPPA has initiated action in 2,605
cases of overcharging, involving overcharged amount, along with interest and penalty
thereon, of ₹9,950.10 crore. During the said period, an amount of ₹1,418.80 crore has been
recovered from the companies concerned in these cases. NPPA has informed that it does not
maintain State-wise data of cases of overcharging. However, detailed list of overcharging
cases where demand notices have been issued is available on the website of NPPA
(www.nppa.gov.in ).
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