NPPA seeks cut in prices of anti-cancer medications

Sub :Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has instructed manufacturers to lower the maximum retail prices of three significant anti-cancer drugs: Trastuzumab, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab.
This action aligns with the government’s goal of ensuring that essential medicines are available at affordable prices.

Waiver of customs duty:

This directive follows the Union Budget 2024-25, where the government announced an exemption from customs duty for these three anti-cancer medicines.
The Department of Revenue, under the Ministry of Finance, has recently issued a notification that reduces the customs duty on these drugs to zero.

About NPPA:

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) was constituted as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) in 1997 under Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
It fixes ceiling prices of scheduled essential drugs and monitors Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) of remaining non-scheduled medical devices, which have been regulated as drugs.