The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has revised prices of 440 medicines. Around 300 medicines have seen price cuts, while the others have seen a hike, sources said. The extent of the revisions is not known as yet.

In addition, the authority also invoked the public interest clause in the Drugs Price Control Order of 1995 to cut the prices of two specific medicines � Enam 5 (tablet) of Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Ringer Lactate Solution injection of Nirma Ltd [Get Quote] � after the companies increased the prices of these medicines over 10 per cent in one year.

The NPPA has also fixed the prices of four bulk drugs (raw materials) analgin, nalidixic acid, spironolactone and frusemide.

The key medicines whose prices have been revised are aspirin, ibuprofen, multi-vitamins, gentamycine, betamethasone, ciprofloxacin and salbutamol. The price of insulin continues to be the same, it is learnt.

According to sources, all upward price revisions were based on actual input costs provided by the companies.

The NPPA has invoked the public interest clause to fix the prices of 24 medicines in the past.

It may be noted that the drug companies had recently approached the NPPA seeking a blanket price increase of medicines to help the industry neutralise the effects of rupee depreciation and increasing import cost of raw materials, especially from China.