NEW DELHI, Nov 9: Revised maximum retail prices for 1,364 cancer-related drug formulations took effect across the country on Monday after an intervention by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
The revised prices covered 1,364 formulations of 121 medicines submitted by 85 drug manufacturers till November 8, according to government data.
Prices of 679 brands fell by more than 50 per cent, while the highest reduction was 96.45 per cent. The Centre estimated that consumers would save about Rs 3,540.38 crore annually due to the measure.
The new prices came into force after the NPPA, which functions under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, capped trade margins on 137 anti-cancer and cancer treatment medicines.
The price control covered certain medicines used for immunotherapy and the treatment of breast and prostate cancer, among other cancer-related drugs.
Consumers can check the revised MRP on medicine packs, the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application and the NPPA website. Medicine shops and hospital pharmacies cannot sell covered medicines above the newly fixed prices.
The revised prices apply only to medicines included in the list of 137 drugs for which trade margins were capped and whose revised prices were notified. Prices of all cancer medicines have not been reduced.
