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 In a significant move to protect consumer interests, the Haryana Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has reported a major crackdown on drug overpricing across the state.
Lalit Kumar Goel, the state drugs controller (SDC) and member secretary of the Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU), issued a press note to Pharmabiz detailing the unit's rigorous enforcement actions throughout the year 2025. The PMRU, which operates under the Department of Food and Drugs Administration in Haryana, is tasked with ensuring that life-saving medications remain accessible and are sold at prices notified by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
Throughout the year 2025, the PMRU Haryana successfully detected 33 cases of drug overpricing. These cases have been formally submitted to the NPPA in New Delhi to initiate necessary legal and administrative actions against the offending manufacturing firms. Goel emphasized that the state's priority is the accessibility of life-saving drugs, stating that the government will continue to take rigorous action against any entity that prioritizes profit over public health.
The report highlighted three specific products in December 2025 where significant violations of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) were detected at the manufacturer level. One of the most egregious cases involved hydrogen peroxide solution (100ml) manufactured in Amritsar in Punjab. While the government-mandated price for this product was set at Rs. 4.48, it was found being sold in the market for Rs. 41.80, representing a massive deviation of Rs. 37.32 per pack.
Another violation concerned sodium carboxymethylcellulose eye drops (10 ml) originating from Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. The PMRU found this product labelled with an MRP of Rs. 143, despite the legally allowed price being only Rs. 137.76. This resulted in a price deviation of Rs. 5.24 per unit. Such discrepancies highlight the ongoing challenges in ensuring manufacturer compliance with national pricing standards across state lines.
The third product identified for overpricing was sodium chloride injection (0.9% w/v) in a 500 ml dosage, manufactured in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. The investigation revealed that the injection was being sold at Rs. 39.74, whereas the price should have been capped at Rs. 37.254 per pack. This overcharge of approximately Rs. 2.486 per unit adds to the cumulative financial burden on patients seeking essential medical treatments.
Beyond enforcement, the PMRU Haryana conducted 13 information, education, and communication (IEC) activities in 2025 to foster a more transparent pharmaceutical ecosystem. In December alone, three such activities were held in Kaithal, Yamunanagar, and Sirsa. During these sessions, drug control officers and field investigators guided chemists and the public on maintaining the ‘Cold Chain’ to ensure drug potency, keeping proper records, and installing CCTV systems in chemist shops for better accountability.
To further empower the public, the FDA Haryana is encouraging citizens to remain vigilant and report any instances of overcharging. Consumers can verify the correct price of any medicine using the ‘PharmaSahiDaam’ mobile application or by contacting the Haryana PMRU through their toll-free number, 1800-180-2413. These initiatives aim to create a community-driven monitoring system to supplement the government's regulatory efforts.
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