Drugs price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on Friday said that medical devices which are notified as drugs must carry maximum retail price (MRP) on the packs.

The government has notified 22 medical devices as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. According to NPPA, some of the devices classified as drugs are surgical dressings, cardiac stents, condoms, bone cements, heart valves and scalp vein set among remaining others.

"It has come to the knowledge of NPPA that several medical devices are available in the market and also being used in health care facilities where no MRP is printed on the package by the manufacturers/importers. This is a blatant violation of law of the land," said the order issued by drug regulator.