New Delhi: Prices of 543 cancer medicine brands and packs in India have been revised following a decision by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). According to the supplied report, prices of 397 medicines, accounting for 73% of the total, have been reduced.
The revised prices are scheduled to take effect from November 9. The reductions vary across medicines, with 217 products seeing price cuts of more than 50%. Prices of 97 brands have fallen by over 70%, while 50 have recorded reductions exceeding 80%. Five medicines have seen price cuts of more than 90%.
One of the largest reductions concerns the Samtepa injection, whose reported price has fallen from ₹80,071 to ₹7,150. The 21-capsule pack of Plbopro has also become significantly cheaper, dropping from ₹40,421 to ₹2,720, according to the report.
The changes follow a Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday, during which the court questioned the NPPA about the control of medicine prices. Pharmaceutical companies subsequently issued revised prices.
However, prices for 146 brand-and-pack combinations remain unchanged. The government has also capped trade margins for 137 anti-cancer medicines at 30% of the maximum retail price (MRP).
The revisions could reduce treatment costs for patients who require the affected medicines. Patients and caregivers should confirm the applicable price with pharmacies and healthcare providers, as the revised rates depend on the specific brand and pack.
