Assam CM says "unaware" of medicine price hikes

Guwahati: After reports of price revision and hikes in around 800 medicines, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claims that he did not get such "news".

Speaking to the media after an event in Diphu, Assam, the Chief Minister claimed that he has got no such news of a price hike in medicines.

He added that even if the prices were revised the government had provided a card that gives benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh.

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He said that the card (under the Ayushman Bharat scheme) allows people to buy medicines for free.

It may be mentioned that on April 1, prices of essential medicines saw a slight increase.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) stated these medicines included medicines such as antibiotics, painkillers and more.

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The price change was about 0.0055 per cent for medicines under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) in line with the annual change in the wholesale price index (WPI).

However, the question asked to the Chief Minister of Assam by journalists on the spot was dodged by him stating that people get medicines for free.

He also dodged a question relating to the electoral bonds.

He was asked by a reporter if he would say anything on electoral bond but the CM replied, "What is it?"

He further told the journalists to question him about other things such as Karbi Anglong or other related topics.