Cancer drug prices slashed by up to 90%, but premium medications remain untouched

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has implemented significant price reductions across a broad range of cancer treatments, with some medications seeing cuts exceeding 90 per cent of their previous costs. The move aims to improve accessibility to essential oncology drugs for patients across the country, addressing long-standing concerns about treatment affordability.

The revised pricing structure covers a substantial portion of cancer medications available in the Indian market. However, the price modifications have not extended to certain premium-priced drugs, including popular immunotherapy treatments like Keytruda, which remain unchanged despite calls for price regulation on these high-cost therapies.

Industry observers note that while the NPPA's decision provides relief for many patients dependent on conventional and widely-available cancer treatments, the exclusion of expensive branded drugs highlights ongoing gaps in price control mechanisms. These premium medications, often imported and used for specific cancer types, continue to impose substantial financial burdens on patients and their families.

The pricing intervention represents one of the largest regulatory actions on cancer medications in recent years. Health advocates have urged the authority to consider similar price reviews for high-cost specialty drugs, arguing that comprehensive price regulation would improve equitable access to cancer treatment across different socioeconomic groups in India.