The Government of India has taken a step to reduce the cost of cancer treatment by capping trade margins on non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. This move is expected to save patients approximately ₹2,500 crore annually.
The Government of India has approved a cap on the margins charged in the supply and sale of non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. The margins will be limited to 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), expected to reduce medicine prices and help cancer patients save approximately ₹2,500 crore annually.
Cancer incidence in India is rising, with approximately 60 people per one lakh population affected by cancer. Treatment places a heavy financial burden on patients and their families. Non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines carry an average price mark-up of approximately 170%, which significantly increases patients’ treatment costs.
An expert committee under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will finalise the list of medicines to be covered. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) will then take a decision and issue the notification.
The Government's earlier intervention in 2019 showed substantial relief to patients when NPPA capped trade margins on 42 selected non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. This decision reduced MRPs and resulted in reported annual savings of ₹984 crore across 526 brands.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
