New Delhi|HL
The drugs used in the treatment of cancer and malaria are soon get cheaper by 45 percent as central regulator has capped prices of 22 essential medicines.
The price cap announced by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) would bring down maximum retail price or MRP of these medicines down by 10-45%. It is likely to impact prices of nearly 220 medicine brands containing 22 formulations.
For instance, the price of 1ml Doxorubicin HCl Pegylated Liposomal Injection – used in the treatment of different types of cancer including blood, breast, stomach, lungs, ovaries and kidneys – has been fixed at Rs 723.93, whereas a pack of Zoledronic Acid infusion – used with cancer chemotherapy to treat bone problems – will now cost Rs 3,609.13.
“The average price reduction on these drugs would be at least 25% after the latest order,” an official told TOI.
The NPPA caps prices of essential drugs at the simple average of all medicines in a particular therapeutic segment with sales of more than 1%.
With the growing burden of non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disorders, the government has taken several steps recently to bring down prices of such medicines which are widely used for treatment.
Currently, around 20% of the over Rs 1 lakh crore domestic pharmaceutical market is under price control.
