look news india
New Delhi, 29 October (Hindustan Reporter). The maximum retail price (MRP) of three anti-cancer drugs (trastuzumab, osimertinib and durvalumab) will be decided after exemption from customs duty and reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed drug manufacturers to reduce the MRP on these three anti-cancer drugs.
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said in a statement issued on Tuesday that after the exemption in customs duty and reduction in GST rates, NPPA has directed drug manufacturers to reduce the MRP of three anti-cancer drugs. According to the ministry, NPPA, in its office memorandum issued on October 28, has directed the concerned manufacturers to reduce the MRP on three anti-cancer drugs. This is in line with the announcement made in the Union Budget for the year 2024-25, in which these three anti-cancer drugs have been exempted from customs duty.
The ministry said this is in line with the government's commitment to ensure availability of medicines at affordable prices. The memorandum directs the manufacturers to issue a price list or supplementary price list to the dealers, state drug controllers and the government, indicating the changes and to inform about the price change through Form-II or Form-V. Information should be submitted to NPPA.
In the Union Budget 2024-25, the Central Government had announced exemption in customs duty on three cancer medicines to reduce the financial burden of people suffering from cancer. The government has reduced the GST rate on these three cancer medicines from 12 percent to 5 percent.
It is noteworthy that trastuzumab deruxtecan drug is used for breast cancer, osimertinib is used for lung cancer, while durvalumab is for both lung cancer and biliary tract cancer.