Guwahati: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has listed out 390 anti-cancer scheduled medicines with reduction in Maximum Retail Price (MRP) up to 97 percent. The revised price has come into effect from March 8, 2019.
The reduction in anti-cancer drugs would result in annual savings of around Rs. 800 crores for the patients as stated by the government.
The NPPA had brought 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control on February 27 capping trade margin at 30 percent.
The government has directed the manufacturers and hospitals to convey the revised MRP to be effective from March 8 based on the trade margin formula.
A release issued by the NPPA said that a total of 390 brands that is 91 percent of the 426 brands reported by the manufacturers showed downward price movement.
It has been stated in the release that the move is expected to benefit 22 lakh cancer patients in the country and would result in annual savings of around Rs. 800crore to the patients.
The statement further reads as the trade margin rationalization for 42 anti-cancer drugs was rolled out as Proof of Concept stressing on the new paradigm of self-regulation by the industry. The manufacturers of these 42 drugs have been directed have been directed not to reduce production volumes of brands under regulation.
According to reports, there has been a reduction between 50-75 percent in 124 brands while the MRP of 38 brands have been reduced to 75 percent and more.
The MRP of 121 brands have been reduced between 25 percent to 50 percent and the price of 107 brands have been reduced below 25 percent.
The NPPA currently fixes price of drugs in the National List of Essential Medicines under Schedule I of DPCO and under the NLEM, 1000 drugs have been price-capped so far.
The cost of cancer medicines is very expensive and the people who can’t afford to buy the medicines have to suffer. The Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 issued by the Government of India in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) fixes the ceiling prices and accordingly the new manufactured drugs are available in the market after the Government issued the order.
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