After custom duty exemption and a reduction in GST rates, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has now directed the drug manufacturers to reduce the MRP on three anti-cancer medications, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers said on Tuesday.
The NPPA in an office memorandum dated October 28 directed “the concerned manufacturers to reduce the MRP on three anti-cancer drugs, Trastuzumab, Osimertinib and Durvalumab”.
“This is in line with the Government’s commitment to ensure the availability of drugs at affordable prices,” the ministry added. In the Union Budget 2024-25, the government exempted customs duty on the three cancer drugs to reduce the financial burden of people suffering from cancer and also to facilitate accessibility.
The government also slashed the GST rate from 12 per cent to 5 per cent on these three cancer medicines. “Accordingly, there should be a reduction in MRP of these drugs in the market, and benefits of reduced taxes and duties should be passed on to the consumers,” the memorandum said. It further directed the manufacturers “to issue a price list or supplementary price list to the dealers, State Drugs Controllers, and the Government indicating changes and to submit information regarding a price change to NPPA through Form-II/ Form V”.
While Trastuzumab Deruxtecan is used for breast cancer, Osimertinib is for lung cancer; and Durvalumab is for both lung cancer and biliary tract cancer. Cancer cases are rising significantly in India
According to a Lancet study, India registered about 12 lakh new cancer cases and 9.3 lakh deaths in 2019 – the second-highest contributor to the disease burden in Asia.
The number climbed to 13.9 lakh in 2020, which further soared to 14.2 lakh and 14.6 lakh in the years 2021 and 2022, respectively, the study showed.
PM LAUNCHES HEALTH PROJECTS WORTH RS 12,850 CRORE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects related to the health sector worth around Rs 12,850 crore at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in the national capital as part of the celebration of Dhanvantari Jayanti and 9th Ayurveda Day.
PM Modi said the “amalgamation of knowledge of Ayurveda with Modern medicine” has brought a new chapter in the health sector in the last 10 years.”India is looking at the health sector as holistic health,” PM Modi said while outlining the five pillars of health policy — preventive healthcare, early detection of ailments, free and low cost treatment and medicines, availability of doctors in small towns and lastly expansion of technology in health services.
The healthcare projects worth Rs 12,850 crore include four centres of excellence under the Ayush Health Scheme, expansion of health services with the use of drones, helicopter service in AIIMS-Rishikesh, new infrastructure in AIIMS-New Delhi and AIIMS-Bilaspur, expansion of services in five other AIIMS in the country, establishment of medical colleges, ‘bhoomi pujan’ of nursing colleges and other projects related to the health sector.
While noting that 7.5 lakh registered AYUSH practitioners are already contributing to the nation’s healthcare, the PM stressed increasing the number further. He also highlighted the growing demand for medical and wellness tourism in India.