VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav has ordered drug inspectors to check every cancer hospital and treatment centre in the state within seven days to make sure patients get the lower cancer-drug prices that took effect on November 9. He reviewed enforcement on Tuesday with Health Secretary G. Veerapandian, Drugs Control Administration Director General Arun Babu and other officials.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at 30%. Companies have revised prices of 1,364 formulations of 121 drugs, with cuts of up to 96.45%. A pack of palbociclib, used for breast cancer, fell from ₹40,421 to ₹2,720, and abiraterone, for prostate cancer, from ₹41,250 to ₹3,218.
The state's directions
- Inspectors to check stocks, display of revised price lists and bills issued since November 9
- Stock with old MRPs must be sold at the lower price; no recall or relabelling needed
- Bills must show brand, batch number and MRP
- Legal action for overcharging, hoarding or creating shortages; shortage complaints to be resolved within 24 hours
The minister asked patients to buy only what they need. Prices can be checked on the Pharma Sahi Daam app, and overcharging can be reported on the NPPA toll-free number 1800-111-255.