The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals monitors drug availability and addresses shortages through coordination with state authorities and manufacturers. During the last year, NPPA approved a one-time 50% increase in ceiling prices for four medicines experiencing severe shortages: Carboplatin Injection 10 mg/ml, Cisplatin Injection 1 mg/ml, Anti-Tetanus Immunoglobulin 250 IU, and Anti-Tetanus Immunoglobulin 500IU.
NPPA enforces compliance with the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013), taking action against overcharging and other violations. As of March 31, 2026, NPPA has initiated action in 2,737 overcharging cases, with detailed information available on their website. The authority does not maintain state-wise records of pharmaceutical company overcharging.
The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) provides quality generic medicines at 50-80% discounts compared to branded medicines through over 20,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs). To ensure supply continuity, several measures are implemented: JAK owners receive monthly incentives for maintaining stocks of 200 commonly used medicines (100 top-selling in PMBJP and 100 fast-moving in the market) since September 2024; an IT-enabled supply chain connects five warehouses and 42 distributors nationwide; and PMBI regularly monitors 400 fast-moving products with digitized demand estimation.
Additional government initiatives to improve medicine accessibility include: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) providing ₹5 lakh health insurance coverage per family annually including medicines; Free Drugs Service Initiative offering essential medicines free of charge at public health facilities; AMRIT pharmacies providing up to 50% discounts on cancer, cardiovascular medicines, and implants; and financial assistance through Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi for below-poverty-line patients with life-threatening diseases.