Centre green-lights higher prices for cancer chemotherapy drugs as shortage continues: Report

Published 10 June 2026 · india

The government has reportedly approved price increases for select life-saving cancer medicines amid the shortage, primarily affecting platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin and carboplatin, which are widely used in the treatment of various cancers such as lung, ovarian, cervical, head and neck, bladder, and gastrointestinal cancers. According to a News18 report, the letter written by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to the Member Secretary, Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) on 7 June, stated, “In principle approval of the Hon’ble Minister (Chemicals & Fertilisers) is granted for utilising para 19 of DPCO, 2013 in respect of aforesaid formulations." The price revision was approved under Para 19, a special provision that allows the government to intervene outside the regular price-control framework when it considers such action necessary to ensure the availability or affordability of essential medicines. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What factors contributed to the shortage of cisplatin and carboplatin in India? ⌵ The shortage is primarily due to a steep increase in platinum prices, rising production costs, and supply chain disruptions, particularly in importing the active pharmaceutical ingredients. 2 Why did the Indian government approve higher prices for certain cancer chemotherapy drugs? ⌵ The government approved price increases to ensure the continued availability of essential cancer medicines amid a significant shortage, particularly for cisplatin and carboplatin. 3 How does the Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) justify price revisions for chemotherapy drugs? ⌵ The NPPA can invoke special provisions under Para 19 of the DPCO, 2013, allowing price increases when necessary to maintain the availability and affordability of essential medicines. 4 What impact does the cancer drug shortage have on patients in India?

⌵ The shortage can cause significant treatment delays, affecting one in five cancer patients, and may force doctors to ration doses or switch to less effective treatment alternatives. 5 How are pharmaceutical manufacturers responding to the rising costs of producing chemotherapy drugs? ⌵ Manufacturers are engaging with the NPPA for price revisions, seeking streamlined import permit processes, and considering measures like building buffer stocks to mitigate future shortages. The Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), which functions under the Department of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, granted the approval after a government committee reviewed 82 drug formulations seeking higher prices, the report noted. Of these, only four were deemed urgent enough to warrant a price increase. Also Read | Immuneel to take its cancer therapy beyond India after fresh funding According to a 4 June communication from the NPPA to the Economic Adviser in the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the department had received numerous requests for price revisions. “…applications received by NPPA from various pharmaceutical companies seeking upward revision of prices… for certain scheduled formulations. The applicants have cited factors such as a substantial increase in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) prices, escalation in production costs, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, and other related factors adversely affecting the economic viability of manufacturing and marketing of these formulations on a sustainable basis." It states that “applications pertaining to 82 formulations were examined by the Inter-Ministerial Committee IMC)… After detailed examination, the IMC recommended consideration of price revision in respect of four formulations, one of carboplatin Injection, one of cisplatin injection, and two of anti-tetanus immunoglobulin injection, in view of the significant increase in API costs and concerns regarding their continued availability." Also Read | Many breast cancer patients can safely avoid chemotherapy with new gene test The committee reportedly took note of concerns raised by Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital over shortages of carboplatin and cisplatin injections, which are commonly used as first-line treatments for several cancers.