The financial burden on patients and their families undergoing cancer treatment may ease in the near future. The pricing of cancer medicines recently came under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court, which questioned the huge gap between the price to retailer and the maximum retail price of some cancer medicines.
During the hearing, the court pointed to an example where a cancer drug bought by retailers for around Rs 2,700 is sold at Rs 27,000.
The court said, “This is sheer loot and daylight robbery of patients. How can an MRP of Rs 27,000 be printed on the packet of a drug that the manufacturer sells to the retailer for Rs 2,700? It is shocking that the officials who ought to take a decision on this matter remain completely silent. The reasons for this need no explanation.”
Responding to concerns over excessive markups, the Centre has decided to make cancer medicines more affordable. A cap of 30 percent on the MRP for all non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs is being instructed by the Centre.
Under the proposal, the margin on all branded and generic medicines, as well as domestic and imported drugs, would be capped at 30 percent. The proposal would cover both patented and non-patented medicines.
According to sources from the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the measure could reduce prices up to 70 percent.
The move is aimed at curbing excessive markups at different stages of the supply chain. It is also intended to bring greater transparency to drug pricing and prevent patients from paying disproportionately high prices for essential life-saving medicines.
The latest move follows the government’s 2019 decision to regulate the prices of cancer medicines.