The government has given a go-ahead to a regulator to increase the prices for platinum-based cancer drugs amid the shortage due to a spike in raw material costs.
According to Reuters, patients in India have been “grappling with shortages of platinum-based cancer drugs cisplatin and carboplatin”. The added that several hospitals, especially government-run facilities, are short of supplies.
Notably, the prices of the drugs used to treat cancers of the lung, ovaries and gall bladder, are capped by the central government.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals approved the request by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for revision of prices of these drugs in a letter dated June 7.
The regulator had earlier sought approval to increase the prices under exceptional provisions of the law that can be used in public interest, as per the letter.
“NPPA has sought the approval of the DoP… to increase price in respect to four formulations… In this regard, it is conveyed that the in-principle approval of the Hon’ble Minister… is granted,” read the letter dated June 7 from the DoP to NPPA.
A government source told Reuters that the government has approved a price increase, while the “final decision will be taken by NPPA as it is an independent regulatory body which works under the government”.
Industry experts have highlighted that the Platinum prices have more than doubled, amid constrained supply, robust demand and dwindling inventories. Drugmakers had temporarily halted production of cisplatin and carboplatin after they were not able to secure platinum-based raw materials or pass on higher costs to consumers.
Among those making these platinum-based chemotherapy drugs are Cipla, Intas Pharmaceuticals, as well as oncology specialists such as Naprod Life Sciences and Venus Remedies.