Now Reading: Cancer drug prices cut on 137 medicines after Supreme Court rap
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Cancer drug prices cut on 137 medicines after Supreme Court rap
The Story in Brief
Prices of 137 cancer drugs were reduced from Monday, 9 November, after the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) capped manufacturers' profit at 30% on 17 October. Drug companies have released new rates for 1,364 formulations across 121 medicines, with prices of 679 brands cut by more than half. The sharpest reduction is 96.45%. Patients are expected to save about Rs 3,540.38 crore annually.
The move follows a Supreme Court observation on 22 September that selling a Rs 2,700 drug for Rs 27,000 to a patient was 'like daylight robbery and genocide'. An expert committee under the Directorate General of Health Services, comprising oncologists and government officials, had recommended the margin rationalisation. The list will be updated periodically.
Consumers can verify new prices on the 'Pharma Sahi Daam' app or the NPPA website. Chemists and hospital pharmacies cannot charge more than the notified price. Overcharging complaints can be filed on the 'Pharma Jan Samadhan' portal or by calling NPPA helpline 1800-111-255.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The NPPA's move effectively caps the trade margin on 137 cancer drugs, directly addressing the Supreme Court's sharp criticism of excessive pricing in September. Patients stand to gain approximately Rs 3,540 crore annually in savings, with prices of 679 brands dropping by more than half. The order takes effect immediately, and the government has set up a dedicated app and helpline for consumers to report overcharging, with a grievance portal providing a mechanism for enforcement. The list of controlled drugs is to be updated periodically.
Source: bhaskar.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
