A precedent-setting price cut to more than 700 so-called essential drugs in India could happen as soon as April. The drugs in question include painkillers, infection treatments, diabetes drugs, cardiac treatments as well as antibiotics and could fall by as much as 3%, according to a report in the Economic Times.This is the first time, the report said, that an "across the board" cut in prices for treatments on the National List of Essential Medicines has happened since the country's National Pharmaceutical Policy was put into effect in 2013. The price cut will adhere to the change in annual wholesale price index, which was -2.75% for the January-December period. The report said most drug companies supported the move, but some have balked at the cuts and are pushing the government to cancel its plans. Report
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