New Delhi, Mar 29 — Prices of critical hospital-use medicines, including the last-resort antibiotic Meropenem and commonly used intravenous (IV) fluids, will rise from April 1 after the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) revised their ceiling prices.
According to an official notification, the revised rates factor in the annual Wholesale Price Index (WPI) adjustment and will come into effect from April 1, 2026.
“The latest revision supersedes the earlier price orders… and is aimed at maintaining price control on essential hospital-use fluids while allowing limited adjustments in line with inflation,” officials said.
Meropenem injections supplied in dual chamber bags will see a marginal increase of 0.64956 per cent. The 500 mg dose will now be capped at Rs 851.43 per bag, up from Rs 845.94, while the 1,000 mg dose will be priced at Rs 1,121.96, compared to Rs 1,114.72 earlier. Prices are exclusive of GST.
Officials said the increase, though modest, could affect bulk procurement by hospitals.
Separately, the NPPA has revised ceiling prices for IV fluids. A 1,000 ml 5 per cent glucose injection (non-glass container with special features) will cost Rs 97.40, up from Rs 95.10, while the 500 ml pack is capped at Rs 84.24.
For glucose with sodium chloride (5% + 0.9%), the ceiling prices have been set at Rs 102.34 for 1,000 ml and Rs 87.58 for 500 ml packs. Sodium chloride (0.9%) injections will range from Rs 43.07 for 100 ml to Rs 100.87 for 1,000 ml packs. All prices exclude GST.
Meropenem, a broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotic administered intravenously, is typically reserved for critically ill patients with severe infections such as septicaemia, hospital-acquired pneumonia and complicated urinary tract infections.
The order applies to specified formulations, including those manufactured by companies such as B Braun Medical, Baxter India, Fresenius Kabi and Otsuka Pharmaceutical India.
Under the Drugs Prices Control Order, 2013, manufacturers selling above the revised ceiling must immediately reduce prices. Those with prices below the earlier cap are permitted to increase rates in line with the WPI-based formula.
Non-compliance will attract recovery of overcharged amounts along with interest under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.