Anti-cancer drugs likely to cost 50% less

This news should infuse some life into ailing cancer patients. The government is working to bring down the cost of 23 crucial anti-cancer medicines through the drug price control order.

The 23 are the main life-saving drugs against cancer and each costs Rs50,000 to Rs2 lakh for a month’s dose. After the order, the cost of most of these medicines will come down by 50%. 

“The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has been told to reduce the price of 23 anti-cancer drugs on the list of essential medicines. The draft National Pharmaceutical Policy 2006 proposes that the government exempt anti-cancer drugs from all central taxes, excise duty and import duty and pass on the benefit to consumers,” Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers Srikant Jena said.

Customs and excise duties together contribute 26% of the final price of drugs, besides rebates from state governments and manufacturers. Almost all anti-cancer drugs are in the national list of essential medicines, which means the government has to ensure their availability in the market and affordable price banding.

“The move will help many cancer patients whose survival depends on these crucial medicines. On an average, a cancer patient has to shell out Rs2 lakh on these medicines.

While there are generic low-end molecule drugs available, they cost about Rs50,000 for a month’s dose. High-end molecule drugs like Abraxane, Taxol, Taxotere and Ixempra are non-generic and cost a lot even in the government system,” said Dr DC Doval, chief of medical oncology at the Rajeev Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Delhi.

“Each dosage of 100mg Paclitaxin costs Rs6,000-7,000 per day. In some cases, the dose is as high as 300mg per day. Paclitaxin is often given with Carboplatin, which costs Rs3,000-4,000. So a patient has to pay roughly Rs10,000 per day for basic cancer drugs,” said a doctor from the Dharamshila cancer hospital.

The government estimates 25 lakh persons suffer from cancer in the country. Every year, about seven lakh people are detected with cancer and most are unable to afford the medicines.