National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority regulates prices of 42 anti-cancer drugs

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, on Wednesday, announced price regulation on 42 anti-cancer non-schedule. The Authority also announced that soon medicines for 38 rare disease will be brought under pricing control too soon. NPPA has also controlled 36 types of medicines, including cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, infection, pain and asthma, under the Drugs Control Act, 2013 (DPCO). It has given time till March 8, 2018, to pharmaceutical companies for the implementation of new prices.

A senior NPPA official shared that the idea to regulate expensive cancer drugs was going on for some time. In a meeting on February 26, the major decision was taken and the manufacturers have now been given time to calculate their profits and costs. The capping trade margins for manufacturers will be 30 percent and the new prices will be effective by March 8.

In an earlier post, a senior doctor from the Geriatric Department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences had shared, “Senior citizens often face osteoporosis problems. Such patients are given an injection of Exolix 4 mg. On the existing drug stores outside AIIMS, the price of this drug has been quoted at 2750 rupees while the shopkeeper is giving it for only Rs 500. He said that such a business, where there is no capping on drugs, should be closed immediately

“It is being reported that bringing 42 types of cancer drugs into the price control will include 72 mixes and 355 brands. According to NPPA, after this decision, manufacturers of 105 cancer drugs will reduce profits up to 85 percent in the country. This will give cancer patients a benefit of about Rs 105 crore directly.