Lok Sabha Question No. 4931 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Affordable Medicines to Cancer Patients
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Srinivas Kesineni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4931 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 st  MARCH, 2023

## AFFORDABLE MEDICINES TO CANCER PATIENTS

## 4931. SHRI KESINENI SRINIVAS:

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to boost cancer care and related research in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government ensures making affordable medicines available to cancer patients; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a) &  (b):  Andhra  Pradesh  Government  has  signed  an  MoU  with  NCDIR-ICMR  (Bengaluru)  for cancer registry for the entire state and this is a 3-year programme. AP Government has signed an MoU with The Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC), Visakhapatnam for training the  trainers  in  the  field  of  Preventive  Oncology  for  early  detection  and  treatment.  Diagnostic equipment  in  pathology  is  upgraded  for  assisting  cancer  patients  with  complete  diagnosis  in  all teaching hospitals. In AP, one State Cancer Institute (SCI) - Kurnool Medical College is approved by Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare,  Government  of  India.  The  Government  Cancer  Facility  at Guntur Medical College / Government General Hospital at Guntur is fully functional.
- (c) & (d): Action taken by Government in respect of affordable medicines to cancer patients :
1. Quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the State Governments. A total of 900 drugs (including 50 anticancer/oncology medicines) and 154 surgicals and consumables

are currently included in the product basket of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacy stores have been set  up  in  some  hospitals/institutions,  with  an  objective  to  make  available  Cancer  drugs  at  a substantial discount vis-à-vis the Maximum Retail Price.

2. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority vide order S.O. 1041(E) dated 27th February 2019, has put a cap on Trade Margin of 42 selected non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines on pilot basis under 'Trade Margin Rationalization' approach.
3. The  Government  of  India  has  taken  several  measures  to  encourage  domestic  manufacturing  of Pharmaceutical drugs including its APIs / bulk drugs (including those required cancer treatment) to boost domestic manufacturing. The major Programmatic interventions to support Pharma Industries include Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Pharmaceuticals and for the Bulk drugs, the schematic  interventions  are  PLI  scheme  for  Bulk  Drugs  and  Bulk  Drugs  Parks  scheme.  The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Pharmaceuticals launched in FY 2020 - 21 provides financial incentive to 55 selected applicants for manufacturing of approved eligible products under three categories including anti-cancer drugs (Product Category - 3) for a period of six years.

*****