Hyderabad: During a raid on Medzine Life Sciences in ALEAL Industrial Estate in Malkajgiri district, the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, seized the overpriced antibiotic Mupirocin ointment on Wednesday.
The ceiling price fixed by the central government for the product is Rs 20.29 per 1 gm ointment and Rs 101.45 per 5gm tube. Hence, the maximum retail price (MRP) including 12 per cent GST should not be more than Rs 113.62. The firm was selling a 5 gm tube at Rs 144, charging an excess of Rs 30.37 in violation of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
“Mupirocin sold under the brand name “Mupigrer Ointment” is under price control as per the order. The product price should be within the range of the ceiling price fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. Overpricing of essential medicines is a violation under Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013,” said V.B. Kamalasan Reddy, director general of DCA.
