DELHI: Indian pharmaceutical companies have clocked over Rs 39,000 crore in sales of anti-cancer medicines over the past three years under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the government told the Lok Sabha on Friday, highlighting the policy’s role in reducing dependence on costly imports and enhancing access to critical drugs.
Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel said that between 2022-23 and December 2024, total sales of domestically manufactured anti-cancer drugs reached Rs 38,934.94 crore — comprising Rs 4,700.30 crore in domestic sales and Rs 34,234.64 crore in exports.
The PLI scheme currently supports the production of 75 key anti-cancer medicines, ranging from widely used chemotherapy agents like Paclitaxel and Carboplatin to targeted therapies such as Trastuzumab and Imatinib. These drugs treat various forms of cancer including breast, lung, ovarian, prostate, leukaemia, and lymphoma.
India still imports some high-value cancer drugs, with imports worth US$ 41.52 million recorded in the first nine months of 2024-25. But the Ministry said the PLI scheme is helping shift production to Indian soil, potentially making treatment more affordable and strengthening India’s position as the “pharmacy of the world.”
The move comes at a critical time. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), cancer cases in India are expected to rise from an estimated 15.7 lakh in 2025 to 22.2 lakh by 2040. As demand for treatment surges, the government said, boosting local manufacturing will be key to managing costs and ensuring timely availability of medicines.
Fifty-five firms have been selected under the PLI scheme to manufacture the identified cancer drugs, with financial incentives linked to performance. The companies also export a significant share of their output, contributing to India’s pharmaceutical trade surplus.
The scheme forms part of a broader government strategy to reduce reliance on imports of complex and high-cost medicines, including not just cancer therapies but also other critical drugs and medical devices.
