New Delhi. The Government of India has reduced the maximum retail price (MRP) of 543 brands of cancer drugs in a bid to make cancer treatment cheaper and easier. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) released the new price list on Wednesday. The revised price will be effective from November 9.
The price adjustment comes after the government decided to limit the trading margin on 137 types of non-scheduled cancer drugs to 30 percent. Its main objective is to control the excessive profits at various levels of drug sales and distribution and to provide patients with necessary drugs at a low cost.
According to the drug department, the revised price list includes the details provided by the drug manufacturing companies till October 27. NPPA said that the list will be updated as the manufacturers submit the revised prices of additional drugs.
The new price list includes drugs used in the treatment of breast, prostate, colon, ovarian and cervical cancer. It also includes immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy and auxiliary drugs required by the patient during treatment.
The prices of some of the drugs that have been reduced have been significantly reduced. The price of 10 tablets of Anastrozole 1 mg (Anarzol brand) manufactured by RPG Life Sciences has been reduced from 695.76 Bharu to 73 Bharu.
Similarly, Dr. The price of azacitidine injection produced by Reddy’s Laboratories has been reduced from 6,337 Bharu to 1,495.04 Bharu. The price of 4 ml bevacizumab injection of Abbott Healthcare has been reduced from 21 thousand 767.70 baht to 5 thousand 930.13 baht.
Similarly, the price of Dasnat 20 mg tablet has been reduced from 2 thousand 812.50 Bharu to 1 thousand 85.93 Bharu and the price of Fulbreka injection has been reduced from 26 thousand 72.16 Bharu to 5 thousand 491 Bharu.
As per the policy announced on October 17, 137 non-scheduled cancer drugs identified under the Medicines (Price Control) Order, 2013 have been fixed at a maximum of 30% trading margin. Earlier, in 2019, the government had implemented a similar arrangement for 42 types of cancer drugs.
The government has estimated that cancer patients can save around 2,500 crores annually with this decision. After the new prices are implemented, retailers and hospitals will also have to sell drugs as per the revised prices.
The drug manufacturing company will have to inform the supply chain about the price change and the state drug control agency will monitor its implementation.
Earlier, India’s Parliamentary Health Committee discussed the high cost of cancer drugs. Even the Supreme Court expressed concern about the high price of cancer drugs and termed it as ‘daily robbery’.