NPPA reduces the price of nine anti-cancer drugs
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority(NPPA) has slashed the retail prices of nine anti-cancer drugs, including commonly used chemotherapy injections to treat lung cancer by up to 87%. This major step aims in making cancer cure affordable to all the patients.
According to the new order, the maximum retail price of chemotherapy injection pemetrexed (500mg) has come down from Rs.22,000 to Rs.2,800. It is sold under the brand name Pemxcel and is used to treat lung cancer. Thus a 100 mg dose will now only cost Rs. 800 where earlier it cost Rs. 7,700. The retail price of another common chemo drug, epirubicin (brand name Epichlor), will be Rs.276.8 for a 10mg injection against Rs.561 and Rs.960 for a 50mg injection against Rs.2,662.
Also, the price of erlotinib tablets, sold as Erlotaz, will cost Rs.1,840 for a pack of 10 of 100mg strength. The old price for the same was Rs.6,600. Similarly, a 10-tablet pack of 150mg strength will now cost Rs. 2400 against the old price of Rs.8,800. The price of everolimus (brand name Lanolimus) of strengths 0.25mg and 0.5mg have been brought down to Rs.406 and Rs.739 from Rs.726 and Rs.1,452, respectively.
The price of leuprolide acetate hormonal therapy injection (brand name Leuprogon Depot), commonly administered to cancer patients, has come down to Rs.2,650 from Rs.3,990. This is the second time the NPPA has announced a price cut on anti-cancer drugs since March.
Earlier, in February, it invoked extraordinary powers in public interest under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 to bring 42 nonscheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control, capping trade margin at 30% through trade margin rationalisation. Minimum 72 formulations and more than 390 brands reduced costs following the order.
Patient groups and organisations are happy with the government order.“Most of these are commonly used in several cancer therapies. The cost cut will be extremely beneficial to patients, particularly those who spend out of their pocket,” said Apollo Speciality Hospital senior oncologist Dr T Raja.
Source: Economic Times Health