Since its inception, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has published 1,527 notices of demand to companies for surcharges on sales of formulations at prices above the notified ceiling price. Drug price regulator NPPA received Rs 672.28 fine crore up to date from pharmaceutical companies for overcharge, Parliament was informed.
The list of overtax medications includes commonly used medications such as Gelusil, Soframycin and Ring-Guard. The list included Pharma giants like Sun Pharmaceuticals, Lupin Pharma, Cipla, Cadila Healthcare and many more.
"The application notices were issued for an amount of Rs 5,038.72 crore. The amount of Rs 672.28 crore was filed by the companies. An amount of Rs 3,449.91 crore is in dispute," Minister of State for Chemicals Mansukh L Mandaviya said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
NPPA recovered Rs 294.84 crore during the current fiscal year until February, he added. The government had recovered Rs 90.17 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 12.36 crore in 2015-16.
