SRINAGAR: The Government of India is taking significant steps to make cancer treatment more affordable and accessible for the common man, with a multi-pronged approach that includes financial assistance, enhanced medical infrastructure, and subsidised medicines. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in response to a Lok Sabha query, outlined several initiatives aimed at tackling the growing burden of cancer in the country.
A key component of this effort is the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), which focuses on early diagnosis, treatment, and awareness generation for cancers such as oral, breast, and cervical cancer. Under this programme, the government has strengthened tertiary cancer care facilities by approving 19 State Cancer Institutes and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centres.
The government also provides free or highly subsidised cancer treatment at government hospitals, AIIMS institutions, and medical colleges under schemes like Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) extends health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family annually for nearly 55 crore Indians, offering cancer treatment under more than 200 specialised packages.
Additionally, efforts to lower treatment costs include the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), which offers 83 cancer drugs at affordable prices, and the Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) initiative, which operates 220 pharmacies selling discounted cancer medicines. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has also capped trade margins on 42 anticancer medicines and reduced GST on key drugs.
Meanwhile, a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) estimates that India recorded 14,96,972 new cancer cases in 2023, with data available on the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) website.
To ensure wider access to treatment, district hospitals across the country are being equipped with specialised facilities. The government has set up 770 district NCD clinics and 6,410 community health centre clinics, alongside 372 district-level chemotherapy day care centres. In Tripura, the state government has developed seven district NCD clinics and 38 CHC clinics, established pediatric and adult ICUs, and set up oxygen plants in all district hospitals.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to reducing the financial and logistical burden of cancer treatment through enhanced infrastructure, subsidised drugs, and comprehensive healthcare coverage, ensuring that life-saving treatment reaches even the remotest parts of India.
Under the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) the government said it has intensified efforts to regulate the pricing of cancer drugs in India, ensuring their affordability and accessibility to patients. Under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, NPPA sets ceiling prices for medicines listed in Schedule-I of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013), and fixes retail prices for new drugs. The recent measures have led to substantial cost reductions in essential cancer medications.
The NPPA has fixed ceiling prices for 131 scheduled anti-cancer formulations under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2022. This includes 111 formulations previously regulated under NLEM, 2015, with the re-fixation under NLEM, 2022, resulting in an average price reduction of 21 per cent. This initiative has saved patients approximately Rs 294.34 crore annually.
Additionally, NPPA has determined retail prices for 28 new anti-cancer formulations. In a significant move to curb excessive pricing, the authority has imposed a 30 per cent trade margin cap on 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines. This has led to an average 50 per cent reduction in the maximum retail price (MRP) of 526 brands, generating annual savings of Rs 984 crore for patients.
To further lower costs, the government has reduced customs duty to nil and slashed Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates from 12 per cent to 5 per cent for three anti-cancer drugs in the financial year 2024-25. Companies have been directed to pass on these tax benefits to consumers by reducing MRPs accordingly. Moreover, the Union Budget for FY 2025-26 has announced additional exemptions and concessions in customs duty for specific anti-cancer medicines.
To bolster domestic manufacturing, the Department of Pharmaceuticals is implementing the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Pharmaceuticals, with a financial outlay of Rs 15,000 crore until FY 2027-28. Under this scheme, 54 anti-cancer drugs are being manufactured, reducing dependence on imports and ensuring stable supply at controlled prices.
Several government schemes are playing a crucial role in enhancing access to cancer treatment. Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), around 60 crore beneficiaries receive health assurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year, which includes expenses for drugs and diagnostic services.
The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) ensures the availability of quality medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras at significantly lower prices, typically 50 to 80 per cent below market rates. Additionally, the Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) initiative provides cancer and cardiovascular medicines, implants, and surgical disposables at discounts of up to 50 per cent through designated pharmacy stores.
The government also extends financial aid to economically weaker sections through the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) and the Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG). Under the Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund, eligible patients can receive assistance of up to Rs 15 lakh, while an additional Rs 1.25 lakh is provided under HMDG to cover treatment costs.
Through comprehensive price regulations, tax benefits, manufacturing incentives, and healthcare support schemes, India is making significant strides in reducing the financial burden of cancer treatment. The government’s multi-faceted approach ensures that life-saving medicines are within reach of those in need, reinforcing its commitment to public health and affordable healthcare solutions.
