The prices of more than 900 essential medicines have gone up by 6% from April 1, putting additional pressure on crores of people across India.
These aren’t luxury items but necessary medications used daily for treating common and serious health issues like diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, infections, and heart diseases. For people suffering from chronic conditions, even a ₹1–2 hike per dose adds up quickly, turning into a monthly burden of ₹1500 to ₹2000.
Also Read – Another Day, Another UPI Outage: What’s Happening?
The hike, approved based on last year’s Wholesale Price Index, affects everyday medicines like paracetamol, metformin, amlodipine, salbutamol inhalers, and even vitamin supplements.
While the government allows these annual revisions, the real cost is being paid by those who can least afford it—families that are now forced to choose between food, transport, and life-saving medications.
Also Read – Car Crash Tragedy: Goat’s Miraculous Escape
Doctors are warning that this price rise may push patients towards skipping doses or turning to unsafe, unregulated alternatives, which only makes their health worse in the long term.
Public healthcare programs and affordable outlets like Jan Aushadhi are also likely to feel the pressure, reducing access for the most vulnerable sections of society. The situation is particularly alarming for those who need long-term medication such as cancer patients, transplant recipients, and people with cardiovascular diseases.
Also Read – Journo Killed, Minors Abused: Temple Racket Busted
The Doctor of Pharmacy Association has rightly urged the government to consider solutions like targeted subsidies and better public supply chains. Without timely intervention, this price hike will only deepen healthcare inequality, punishing those already struggling to survive.
