National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority asks Union Health Ministry to list cancer drugs with profit margins capped at 30 per cent

Key facts

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed the Union Health Ministry to submit, by October 14, a list of cancer medicines along with details of their profit margins, which are to be restricted to 30 per cent.
• Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader announced the development in Bengaluru, calling it a historic day for patients' access to medical treatment.
• Khader stated that effective implementation of the proposed measures could reduce out-of-pocket expenditure by around ₹2,500 crore.
• Karnataka's Food and Drug Safety Department compiled a list of around 253 cancer medicines, documenting their landed costs, manufacturing costs and consumer sale prices.
• Karnataka will also seek similar profit-margin regulation for expensive medicines and medical equipment used in treating heart disease and kidney ailments.
• Khader cited excessive pricing examples, including a medicine costing ₹3,000 sold at ₹25,000 and an injection costing ₹5,000 sold at ₹65,000.