Big relief for cancer patients: 30% margin on medicines to reduce prices, benefit poor

The healthcare industry has hailed the Modi government for capping 30 per cent margin on 42 drugs meant for the cancer patients. The industry insiders are of the opinion that it would help to lower the prices of these drugs by nearly 85 per cent — a huge relief to the public in general irrespective of rich or poor. However, they also said that there is a need for some additional steps like indigenising the cancer drug manufacturing and tax rebate to the companies involved in CSR activities for cancer patients. 

Speaking on the government decision Dr Nalin Joshi, Managing Director at RUJ Hospitals told Zee Business Online, “We welcome this great initiative wholeheartedly by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) which yet again has initiated extraordinary steps to benefit common people of India. Likewise, there should be some additional steps that the government can initiate. One of them should be to indigenize cancer drug manufacturing to break the monopoly of international companies. Secondly, tax rebates should be given to companies who are involved in CSR activities for cancer patients." 

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However,  Dr Nalin Joshi told that there should be one national policy for cancer regulation which should be followed by all states. Moreover, tobacco companies should be encouraged to do CSR activities related to cancer.

Standing in sync with the RUJ Hospitals views; Dr BS Ajaikumar, Chairman & CEO of Healthcare Global Enterprises said, “The Government’s move to provide relief to cancer patients regarding treatment costs is welcome but while it may appear to benefit the patients momentarily, it will be detrimental to them in the long run. We need to encourage cashless treatments and strive towards implementing universal healthcare for all sections of the society, irrespective of rich or poor providing quality healthcare to everyone. The government should also improve the per capita income of the citizens of this country as one percent of the population cannot control 80 percent of the wealth." 

Dr BS Ajaikumar of the Healthcare Global Enterprises said that there should be a better distribution of income and purchasing power so that people can have access to products with the right price and get quality treatment at the right time. This will lead to better patient safety, good outcome, and India could be the leader in research and development in the medical field.