Government has initiated action against six pharmaceutical companies, including Cadilla, Wockhardt and Lupin, for overpricing medicines and launching unapproved formulations in the market.

"The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has come across 39 unapproved formulations and 58 overpriced formulations in the list of 886 medicines of the drug companies," Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Violation notice has been issued against 39 unapproved packs of which two belong to Alembic Limited for launching Bivinal Syrup, one to Wockhardt for Miltixocx, Lupin for Lupiqyl Gel, two to Medley Pharma for launching Ultiseng and Vitaseng while remaining 33 packs belong to Cadilla Healthcare.

In case of suspected overpricing of 58 medicines, notices have been issued to two companies -- Cadilla Healthcare for 54 packs and Emcure Ltd for four.

According to Paswan, for 886 medicines eleven pharma companies had voluntarily agreed to reduce prices but on scrutiny by the NPPA it was found that companies were overcharging for 58 formulations.

The list, in both cases, covers formulations in all dosage forms such as tablets, capsules and syrups and they find usage in the treatment of a large number of diseases.

The medicines covered are antibiotics, cough syrups, pain killers as well as those used during surgical operations, for the cure of infectious diseases and for the treatment of hypertension atc, the Minister said.