New Delhi: The prices of 41 commonly used medicines and six formulations have been slashed by the government, Live Mint reported.According to a notification from the Department of Pharmaceutical and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), the prices of drugs for diabetes, body pain, cardiovascular conditions, liver issues, antacids, infections, and allergies, and for multivitamins, and antibiotics are cut down.“Changing prices of medicines and formulations is a kind of routine work for the regulatory body like NPPA. We ensure that there is a ceiling cap on medicines which are essential for public and the cost remains affordable,” a senior NPPA official was quoted as saying by Live Mint. One tablet of Ibuprofen and paracetamol will be available at a price of Rs 1.59 now, as per the NPPA notice. These were previously available for Rs 6 per table, Live Mint reported.The price of dapagliflozin metformin hydrochloride — which is used for lowering blood glucose levels by decreasing glucose production in the liver — is reduced from Rs 16 to Rs 30. Similarly, combinations such as budesonide and formoterol for asthma and improving lung function is reduced to Rs 6.62 for one dose.Also read: Govt Spending on Healthcare Low, Data Transparency Crucial: The LancetDrugs to lower blood pressure such as Hydrochlorothiazide tablets will be available at Rs 10.45 against Rs 11.07 and ceftazidime and avibactam (as sodium salt) powder for infections is dropped to Rs 1,569.94 against Rs 4000 for one vial now.While antacid antigas gel will be retailed at Rs 0.56 per 1 ml against Rs 2.57, atorvastatin, clopidogrel and aspirin capsule prices have been reduced to Rs 13.84 for one capsule against Rs 30, as per the NPPA notice, Live Mint reported, Povidone-iodine and ornidazole ointment prices are reduced to Rs 4 for 1gm from Rs 70 for 15mg.Notably, India’s out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) health expenditure is very high. More than 55 million people are pushed back into poverty every year because of “catastrophic” health expenses, as per a WHO report. Live Mint report also mentioned that the NPPA had reduced the prices of 69 medicines used in diabetes and hypertension earlier this year. Moreover, the department of pharmaceuticals has planned to “expand the committee to oversee efforts to reform drug and medical device pricing by bringing in more industry participants,” as per the report.