Andhra Pradesh orders inspections to ensure cancer drug price cuts reach patients
Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav has directed officials to enforce new central government price reductions on 1,364 anti-cancer medicines.
Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav has ordered medical and health authorities to ensure that recent central government price reductions on cancer medications benefit all patients, according to The New Indian Express. The Minister reviewed drug availability and price implementation in Amaravati alongside Health Department Secretary G Veerapandian and Drug Administration Department Director General Arun Babu.
The nationwide price revision, which took effect on November 9, covers 1,364 anti-cancer drugs. Over 671 brands have seen price drops of more than 50 per cent, with the highest reduction reaching 96.45 per cent. The Minister directed that existing stocks in medical shops and hospital dispensaries must be sold at the new, lower rates.
To ensure compliance, every Drug Inspector must visit all cancer treatment centres in their area within seven days. If a patient reports that a medicine is unavailable, inspectors are required to respond within 24 hours to ensure delivery. Authorities have also been told to take action against hoarding and artificial shortages.
The Drug Control Administration has mandated that hospital pharmacies and retail outlets display revised price lists both physically and online. While old packaging does not need to be relabelled, pharmacies must bill patients at whichever price is lower: the printed MRP or the new revised rate. Bills must include the brand name, batch number, MRP, and total amount.
Patients can report overcharging, refusal of sale, or unavailability to the Drug Control Administration via WhatsApp at 8632330909, email at [email protected], or the NPPA toll-free number at 1800-111-255.