The Centre in a major relief for cancer patients reduced the prices of 543 brands of anti-cancer medicines to make cancer treatment more affordable. The revised prices will come into effect on November 9, according to a notice issued by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
Anastrozole, a commonly prescribed medication for breast cancer, is among the drugs that have witnessed a sharp price reduction. The price of RPG Life Sciences’ Arnasor, which contains 1 mg anastrozole tablets in a pack of 10, has been reduced from Rs 695.76 to Rs 73.
Similarly, the price of Azact, a 100 mg azacitidine injection marketed by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, has been revised from Rs 6,337 to Rs 1,495.04.
Bevacizumab, a medicine used in cancer treatment, has also seen a significant reduction. The price of Abbott Healthcare’s 100 mg/4 ml injection, previously sold for Rs 21,767.70, has been reduced to Rs 5,930.13 per 4 ml vial.
Other medicines included in the revised pricing notice include Dasanat 20, Debrumab 60 mg injection, Enuta, marketed by RPG Life Sciences, ERLIB and Fulbreca.
The latest revision comes against the backdrop of the government’s decision to introduce trade margin rationalisation for 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines. Under the initiative, the NPPA capped trade margins at 30% of the maximum retail price for the identified medicines in bulk, under the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
The identified medicines include immunotherapy drugs used to treat more than 20 types of cancer.
The latest NPPA list is based on price information submitted by pharmaceutical companies up to October 27. The authority has stated that the list will be updated as manufacturers submit revised prices for the identified non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines under the initiative.
Through the price-control measures, the government aims to curb excessive trade margins, improve access to anti-cancer medicines and ease the financial burden on patients and their families.