Medicines will become expensive: Prices of fever, pain and antibiotics will increase from April 1, know which medicines will be affected.

New Delhi. Inflation is going to hit the common man’s pocket once again. The prices of many essential medicines like painkillers, antibiotics and fever medicines are going to increase from April 1, 2026. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has given green signal to a slight increase in the prices of more than 1000 medicines included in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). This change has been made on the basis of increase in Wholesale Price Index (WPI). It is a matter of relief that this time the increase is much less as compared to previous years.

Essential medicines will become costlier by 0.6 percent, what is the government’s logic?

According to the data of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, an increase of 0.64956 percent has been recorded in the WPI in the year 2025 as compared to the previous year. Based on this, NPPA has allowed an increase in the prices of medicines by about 0.6 percent. The government says that this is a regular process, which is done every year so that pharmaceutical companies can balance the rising production costs and there is no shortage of medicines in the market.

From paracetamol to antibiotics, these medicines will have an impact

This price increase will affect the most commonly used common medicines. Considered a panacea for fever and headache paracetamol Now it will be expensive. Other than this azithromycin And ciprofloxacin The prices of medicines like antibiotics, medicines used in the treatment of anemia (blood deficiency), vitamins, minerals and steroids will also increase. Even the prices of some special medicines used in the treatment of Covid-19 will increase from April 1.

Compulsion of pharmaceutical companies: Raw material and impact of war

Drug manufacturers say that there has been a huge jump in the prices of raw materials (API) at the international level. Due to the Iran-Israel war, prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients and solvents have increased by 30 to 35 percent. Used in syrups and drops 64 percent increase in the price of glycerine A big jump has been seen. At the same time, aluminum foil and PVC used in packaging of medicines have also become costlier by 40 percent. According to the pharma lobby, despite such a huge increase in costs, an increase of 0.6 per cent is like a straw in the camel’s mouth.

What does it mean for the common man?

Although rising drug prices is always a matter of concern, experts believe that this increase of less than 1 percent will not be a huge burden for consumers. The main objective of NPPA is to ensure that essential medicines are not out of reach of the common man and companies do not stop producing medicines due to losses. The government is keeping a close watch on this entire process so that prices can be controlled in future.