Parliament Question: Reduction of Cancer Drug Prices

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 5729 TO BE ANSWEREDON27TH MARCH, 2026 REDUCTION OFCANCERDRUG PRICES 5729. SHRIRAJMOHAN UNNITHAN: Willthe Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the recent reduction in prices of selected cancer drugs has significantly improved affordability for patientsacross States,if so, the detailsthereof, State-wise; (b) whether public hospitals in Kerala have reported increased access to essential oncology medicines,if so, the details thereof; and (c) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure the sustained affordability of life-saving drugs andequitableaccesstospecialised treatment? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV) (a) The reduction in prices of selected anti-cancer drugs has contributed to improved affordability for patients, as measures such as trade margin rationalisation and price fixation by NPPA have led to reduction of prices of several drugs, thereby lowering out-of-pocket expenditure and increasing access to essential oncology medicines across States. further, reduction in customs duty and GST on certain high-cost cancer drugs has resulted in corresponding decrease in their market prices, enabling more patients to avail treatment, though State-wise quantification of such improvementisnot centrallymaintained. (b) The State Government of Kerala has informed that the procurement of oncology drugs in the public health hospitals in Kerala is through Kerala Medical Services Cooperation and the costly medicines are distributed through Karunya outlets which are the off-shoots of Kerala Medical Services Cooperation. The Karunya outlets are selling the expensive medicines at zero profit scheme.Hencepatientscanavailexpensivemedicinesata muchlower cost. (c) Under National Health Mission (NHM), National Free Drugs Initiative and Free Diagnostic Services ensure essential medicines and diagnostics at public health facilities, reducing out-of- pocket expenses. Anti-cancer drugs are included in the Essential Drugs List at District and Sub- Divisional Hospitals under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases(NP-NCDs).Various measures have beentaken to make cancer drugs affordable and accessible tothe masses, including,amongothers, the following: (i) NPPAhas fixedceiling prices of 131scheduled anti-cancer formulations underNLEM. These include 111formulationswhosepriceswere fixedundertheNLEM, 2015.Refixationofthe same under NLEM, 2022 has resulted in reduction of around 21% from the ceiling prices fixed under NLEM,2015, leadingtoannualsavings ofaround₹294.34crore topatients. (ii) NPPA has fixed retail prices of 31 anti-cancer formulations of applicant manufacturing and marketing companies, under the DPCO, 2013provisions relating to fixing of retail prices of new drugs. (iii) In addition, NPPA has put a cap of 30% trade margin on 42 non-scheduled anti- cancer medicines, in public interest, which has resulted in reduction of MRP of 500 brands of these medicines by an average of around 50%. In addition, government has also been regularly rationalizingthe dutyonanti-cancerdrugs tohelpreduce theirprices. Treatment of major NCDs including Cancer treatment are available under Ayushman Bharat – PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojana(AB PMJAY).Thisscheme providesfor Rs. 5 lakh perfamily annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitilization in the empanelled public and private hospitals. The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacies improve access to affordable cancer medicines, stents, and implants, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and supporting long-term treatment adherence. *****