Finally some relief to the cancer patients and their relatives who are equally suffering both mentally and financially thanks to the excessive prices of the Cancer drugs. With the government of India’s decision to revise the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and national Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority’s recommendations, the prices of 12 cancer medicines in India may slash soon. The cost of the cancer drugs enlisted by the NELM will see a cut soon by DPCO (Drug Price Control Order).
The effort of controlling the price of the cancer medicines had to face a lot of controversies and opposition and challenges from the both side; people who were asking for reconsideration of the medicine prices and were agitating since the price hike since the last April as well as the pharmaceutical companies who were not in the favour of price slash and wanted to set their own prices. A list of drugs that can save the patients from some of the life threatening diseases staring from breast cancer to leukaemia have come under the price control. These drugs usually costs from three thousand to eight lakh. In order to make the treatment available and affordable to all the cancer patients belonging to every strata of the society, Pharmaceutical pricing Authority of India has suggested to include 12 essential drugs in the list of NLEM. If the recommendation is accepted then many of these lifesaving cancer drugs will be available at an affordable price in India.
This significant step can help to drop the total cost of cancer treatment effectively. For example, the treatment for brain tumour using Temozolomide right now costs 2.16 lakh for the innovator brands while the generic variants are available at 20 thousands. Similarly, Irinotecan which is required mainly for treating ovaries and lung cancers costs around 1.87 lakh for innovator while it is available at 25 thousands for the generic variants. According to a number of renowned oncologists in India, this step will help a number of patients suffering from various types of cancers.
Though it is completely depended upon the Department of Pharmaceuticals whether they will give the approval to national Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority’s proposal, it is somewhat clear that Indian government is also strongly supporting the proposal. In a question answer round in Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian Parliament, the honourable minister of Chemicals and fertilizers has confirmed that a core committee of some experts has been formed in order to review the proposal. He further confirmed that a chain of pharmacies has been established countrywide where these medicines will be available at an affordable price. This would be an ideal way to promote the cancer medicines in India among the people.
India is a poor country if we consider the average income group which rule the society. There are very few people who can afford to spend thousands of rupees for treatment or get health insurance coverage. Therefore, it is expected that, these people will definitely find it difficult to access the cancer drugs which costs around $47 to $12600 i.e. Rs. 3000 to 800000 in Indian currency. People falling in the average income group will be benefited hugely if the suggested 12 cancer medicines India come under the price control.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best! Let's pray for the recovery and good health of the Cancer patients.
0 comments:
Post a Comment