Lok Sabha Question No. 1961 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Pricing of Cancer Medicine
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1961 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST DECEMBER, 2018

## PRICING OF CANCER ME DICINE

## 1961. SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether as per a study the medicines used for treating cancer are costly despite the prices in general being very low in the country vis - a- vis other countries;
- (b) if so, t he details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether cancer drugs and its treatment is out of reach of the majority of cancer pati country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure cancer drugs at affordable prices and tr free of cost for cancer patients in all the hospitals in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a)& (b): As per a study based on the list prices, there is large difference in media prices of 23 cancer drugs across seven countries under study. The study identified highe price in the United States of America and the lowest in India and South Africa.

Many of the Cancer drugs are costly. However, First Schedule of Drug Pricing Control Order  (DPCO),  2013  also  contains  drugs  used  for  the  treatment  of  Cancer  for  which  cei prices have been fixed.

- (c) to (e): The cost of treatment of Cancer depends on various factors including, inter a the stage of dia gnosis, type and site of cancer and type of treatment .

Contd…….

The treatment of Cancer in many of State and Central Government institutions is free for BPL patients and subsidized for others. The Central Government supplements the efforts of th Governments to prevent and control cancer and to provide affordable and accessible care. of the steps taken by theCentral Gov ernment are as follows:

(i) The objectives of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabete Cardiovascular  Diseases  and  Stroke  (NPCDCS)  being  implemented  under  National  Health Mission  (NHM)  for  interventions  upto  the  district  level  include s  awareness  generation  for Cancer prevention, screening, early detection and referral to an appropriate level insti treatment. For Cancer, the focus is on three Cancer namely breast, cervical and oral.

(ii) To  enhance  the  facilities  for  tertiary  ca re  of  cancer,  the  Central  Government  is implementing Tertiary Care Cancer Centre Scheme to support the setting up of State Ca Institutes (SCI) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the countr

(iii)Oncology  in  its  various  a spects  has  focus  in  case  of  new  AIIMS  and  many  upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY).

(iv)   Setting up of National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Jhajjar (Haryana) and 2nd cam Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata has been approved.

(v) The Government is providing financial assistance to patients living below poverty l life  threatening  diseases  under  the  schemes  such  as  Rashtriya  Arogya  Nidhi (RAN), Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) and Health Minister's Discretionary Grant (HMDG).

(vi)  Affordable  Medicines  and  Reliable  Implants  for  Treatment  (AMRIT)  Deendayal  outle have been opened at 146 Institutions/Hospitals with an objective to make available Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases drugs and implants at discounted prices to the patients. Jan Au stores are set up by Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide generic drugs at affordable

(vii) The list of medicines specif ied in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) which are included in the First Schedule of Drug Pricing Control Order (DPCO), 2013 also con drugs used for the treatment of Cancer for which ceiling prices have been fixed.

(viii) Pradhan Mantri J an Arogya Yojna (PMJAY) is being implemented in coordination with the State Governments providing a coverage of Rs. 5,00,000/ -to over more than 10 crore beneficiary families, giving  cashless  and  paperless  access  to  services  for  the  beneficiary  at  the  p t  of service in (both public and private) empanelled hospitals across India. More than 1350 pa have been finalized by an expert committee headed by Director General Health Services and reviewed by NITI Aayog. The treatment of cancer is also incl uded under PMJAY.

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