Hospitals, medical shops not implementing reduced cancer drug prices to face action

Minister for Health, Medical and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav

Minister for Health, Medical and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav has directed officials and drug inspectors across the State to conduct inspections to ensure that the revised cancer drug prices are being implemented.

In October, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) capped trade margins at 30% for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, reducing the price of nearly 900 cancer medicine brands by up to 70%-93%. The revised rates came into force from November 9.

In this connection, the Minister held a review meeting on Tuesday, November 10, with Health Secretary G. Veerapandian, Director General of the Drugs Control Administration Arun Babu and other officials to discuss the measures to be implemented.

The Minister instructed officials to monitor the availability of medicines, implementation of revised prices and intensify inspections at hospitals and medical stores. Even the medicines bearing old printed prices should be sold at the revised rates, the Minister said, warning of strict action in cases of malpractices. He also advised patients against stocking medicines, since this could lead to shortages.

The Minister said hospitals must display the revised price lists, supplied by pharmaceutical manufacturers, at their medicine counters and on their websites. Hospitals must issue bills to patients containing details such as the brand name, batch number, maximum retail price (MRP) and the amount charged for each medicine.

Patients’ rights and grievance redressal procedures must also be displayed in both Telugu and English at hospital pharmacies, cancer treatment departments and day-care clinics, the Minister said.

Meanwhile, drug inspectors have been directed to inspect all cancer hospitals within seven days and check whether pharmaceutical manufacturers’ supply agents have received the revised drug price lists.

Medicines must be sold at whichever is lower between the price mentioned in the revised price list and the price printed on the package. Charging more than the applicable price will not be permitted, the Minister said, detailing steps of action that need to be taken by drug inspectors against erring individuals.

Mr. Arun Babu said patients and hospitals can lodge complaints with the Drugs Control Administration on WhatsApp: 8632330909 if cancer medicines are unavailable, patients are charged more than the revised prices or if medicines are refused to them. One can also write to them at dca-grams@ap.gov.in.