Government expands scope of price control on cancer drugs; cancer patients expected to save 2,500 crore rupees annually.

The Ministry of Health today expanded the scope of price control on cancer treatment drugs under a comprehensive drug price control package. In this new policy, a cap has been placed on the prices of more than 150 oncologic drugs, which earlier applied only to 80 drugs. According to the new guidelines, drug prices will be limited to not exceed 40 % above the national average price, and pharmaceutical companies will be required to obtain government approval before raising prices.

The aim of this step is to reduce the financial burden on patients. Economists and oncology experts have estimated that this control will save approximately 2,500 crore rupees per year, which is more than 3 % of India's health budget. The government has also said that tax exemptions and additional grants for research and development (R&D) will be made available to encourage pharmaceutical companies to lower prices.

However, representatives of the drug industry have warned that price control could reduce the profits of pharmaceutical companies, which may affect drug availability. They also say that while reducing prices, it is necessary to ensure drug quality and access. The health department said that during the implementation of this policy, strict monitoring of drug quality and the supply chain will be maintained so that patients do not face any inconvenience. This step is expected to improve both access to and affordability of drugs for cancer patients, thereby reducing financial stress during treatment.