NPPA caps price for 5 medical devices for affordable and better COVID-19 management

In view of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and the continuing demand for medical devices, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped the trade margin for five medical devices to 70 percent on Price to Distributor (PTD) level, which includes pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitoring machine, nebulizer, digital thermometer, and glucometers.

In a tweet, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed, “In the larger public interest, the government caps trade margin for five medical devices, effective from July 20. It will hugely reduce prices of Medical devices.”

In accordance with this, a total of 684 products and brands of these medical devices and other 620 products or brands have reported downward revision of MRP.

All domestic and imported brands have shown downward revision of MRP. A maximum downward revision has been reported by the imported brand of Pulse Oximeter, showing a reduction of Rs. 2,95,375 per unit. Followed by blood pressure monitoring machine and nebulizer

In order to monitor and enforce this capping, the revised MRP has been shared with the State Drug Controllers for monitoring and enforcement.