Govt to reduce cancer drug prices soon

Government said on Thursday it was working towards bringing 23 anti-cancer medicines under the Drug (Price Control) Order to lower their prices.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers Srikant Jena said the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has been asked to look into demands for bringing 23 anti-cancer drugs within the ambit of price control.

Under the proposed pharma policy, under consideration of a group of ministers, apart from 74 bulk drugs and their formulations, the drugs/medicines included in the national list of essential medicines are proposed to be brought under price control, he said.

"Twenty-three anti-cancer drugs on the list of essential medicines need to be brought under the DPCO. Once it comes under DPCO prices will reduce," Jena said.

He said the Draft National Pharmaceutical Policy 2006 proposes that the government would exempt all anti-cancer drugs from all types of central taxes, excise duty and import duty and pass on the benefit to consumers.

In reply to another question, Jena said the empowered group of ministers has decided on the revamp and revival of fertiliser plants which would be supplied natural gas as and when they are ready.