Government Cuts Prices of 1,364 Cancer Medicines, Patients to Save ₹3,540 Crore Annually
Cancer patients across India are set to receive significant financial relief as revised prices of 1,364 anti-cancer medicine formulations came into effect on November 9. The Department of Pharmaceuticals estimates that the move will generate annual savings of approximately ₹3,540.38 crore for consumers. The price reductions follow the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority’s (NPPA) decision to cap trade margins on 137 anti-cancer drugs at 30% of their maximum retail price (MRP), aiming to make essential treatments more affordable.
According to the government, 85 pharmaceutical companies had reported revised prices for 1,364 formulations covering 121 drugs as of November 8. Among these, 679 brands recorded price reductions exceeding 50%, with the steepest cut reaching 96.45%. The medicines covered include immunotherapy treatments used for more than 20 types of cancer, along with widely prescribed drugs such as pembrolizumab, durvalumab, osimertinib, denosumab, pegfilgrastim and bevacizumab. The initiative builds on an earlier NPPA exercise in 2019, which resulted in price reductions of up to 90% for certain anti-cancer medicine brands.
The government said the decision aims to reduce the financial burden on patients and their families while improving access to cancer treatment. Pharmaceutical manufacturers have also been directed to maintain existing production and supply levels to prevent shortages. Patients and caregivers can check revised medicine prices through the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application or the NPPA website. Consumers facing overcharging can submit complaints through the Pharma Jan Samadhan portal or contact the NPPA helpline at 1800-111-255.
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