The Government on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that prices of more than 40 cancer drugs had come down significantly after it fixed trade margins. Moreover, India has developed the capability to manufacture cancer drugs within the country, the house was told.
Giving these details, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the
Rajya Sabha "we had to import cancer medicines but now India is capable of manufacturing it. We have introduced PLI scheme under which the manufacturing of APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) required for making cancer medicines have also started in India."
The Minister informed the House that the MRPs of these cancer medicines have been capped in such a manner that it cannot be more than 60 per cent of the first price that a manufacturer sells to a distributor in India.
After fixing the trade margins, the price of cancer treatment medicines have come down significantly, which is benefiting cancer patients, Mandaviya asserted.
Replying to another question by Derek O' Brien(TMC)on what steps the government have taken on reports of about 175 healthcare organisations refusing to honour and clear bills of ex-servicemen under the Central Government Health Scheme(CGHS), Mandaviya said the government will look into the matter.
The minister also assured that issues faced by senior retired journalists, whose bills have not been cleared under CGHS, will also be addressed.
To another question raised by Anand Sharma(Congress) over the withdrawal by major private hospitals from the CGHS panel, the minister said the government is aware of the situation and it has held discussions with the hospitals, which have given suggestions.
Based on the feedback the government will work to ensure the CHGS cardholders get the best medical treatment, he added.
In a written reply, the minister said during 2021-22 fiscal, claims of empanelled healthcare organisations amounting to Rs 1,330 crore were settled. Bills amounting to Rs 1343 crore are received from empanelled healthcare organisations for payment.