Manufacturers told to slash price of 3 cancer drugs

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on Tuesday issued a memorandum directing drug manufacturers to reduce the MRP on three anti-cancer drugs — Trastuzumab, Osimertinib and Durvalumab.

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This is in pursuance to the announcement made in the Budget for 25 exempting these three anti-cancer medicines from customs duty. The Finance Ministry had in July issued a notification reducing the customs duty to nil on these three anticancer drugs.

Further, the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, issued notification on October 8 notifying the reduction in GST Rates from 12 per cent to 5 per cent.

Accordingly, there should be a reduction in the MRP of these drugs and the benefits of reduced duties should be passed on to consumers, the government said.