NPPA Caps Trade Margin Of 42 Anti-cancer Medicines: Govt To Rajya Sabha

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has put a cap on Trade Margin of 42 selected non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines on pilot basis under ‘Trade Margin Rationalization’ approach, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has put a cap on Trade Margin of 42 selected non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines on pilot basis under ‘Trade Margin Rationalisation’ approach, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. 

"As informed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority order 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 Rationalisation’ approach. Ribociclib was also included in this," Dr Pawar said. 

She further said that the government has taken several measures to encourage domestic manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs including its APIs / bulk drugs (including those required for cancer treatment) to boost domestic manufacturing. 

Dr Pawar stated that the major programmatic interventions to support Pharma Industries include Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Pharmaceuticals and for Bulk drugs, the schematic interventions are the PLI scheme for Bulk Drugs and Bulk Drugs Parks scheme.

"The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Pharmaceuticals launched in FY 2020 - 21 provides a 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," the minister said in the reply.

Adding to that Dr Pawar said that one PLI applicant is manufacturing the Abemaciclib Intermediate and Ribociclib Intermediate under the sub-category of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/ key starting materials/ Drug Intermediates.

"As per the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Cancer Registry Programme data, the estimated number of incidences of breast cancer in the country for the year 2022 is 2,16,108. As per Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), palbociclib has gone off patent on 10th Jan 2023," Dr Pawar informed.

She further enumerated that quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the State Governments. "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," she added.