Cancer medicines rate: New Delhi: To give relief to cancer patients, the central government has taken an important step towards reducing the prices of anti-cancer medicines. According to government sources, it has been decided to limit the profit on non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs to 30 percent of the maximum retail price. With this (…)
Cancer medicines rate: New Delhi: To give relief to cancer patients, the central government has taken an important step towards reducing the prices of anti-cancer medicines. According to government sources, it has been decided to limit the profit on non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs to 30 percent of the maximum retail price. This is expected to reduce the prices of 110 medicines, including 35 patent medicines.
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This decision will cover branded and generic, indigenous and imported, patented and non-patented drugs. The new rates are expected to be implemented by the end of this month. According to government sources, the move could save cancer patients around Rs 2,500 crore annually.
The government's aim is to stop the practice of exorbitant profits in the sale of medicines and to ensure the availability of life-saving medicines to make them affordable for patients. Medicines with new prices will also be available in hospitals.
The Supreme Court also expressed concern
The issue of expensive cancer drugs also came up in the Supreme Court on September 29. However, government sources clarified that the process of fixing the profit limit was ongoing since 2019 and the decision is not directly related to the pending court case.
Order to form a committee to investigate the marketing of pharma companies
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has ordered the central government to form a committee within two weeks to probe the alleged unethical marketing by pharmaceutical companies. A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta said the committee will conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged irregularities related to the marketing of medicines and make recommendations on appropriate legal and regulatory provisions to regulate the conduct of the companies. The court asked the committee after consultation and consideration of relevant facts to try to complete the proceedings within two months of its first meeting and submit recommendations to the government.
Accusations of luring doctors
The petition alleged that some pharmaceutical companies allegedly offer benefits such as cash benefits, gifts, hospitality, sponsored trips and entertainment to healthcare professionals to influence them to prescribe their drugs. The Supreme Court has directed to investigate the matter and take action on the proposal of the central government regarding the formation of a committee to ensure transparency in the marketing of medicines.