Relief for cancer patients, big cuts in prices of 3 anti-cancer drugs, including Trastuzumab

There has been news of great relief for patients and their families suffering from serious diseases like cancer. The prices of three major anti-cancer drugs, including Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, have been drastically cut.

There has been news of great relief for patients and their families suffering from serious diseases like cancer. The prices of three major anti-cancer drugs, including Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, have been drastically cut, which will now make it easier to access these drugs. This step has brought a new ray of hope for millions of patients facing the burden of heavy cost of treatment.

As per the government's directive, the prices of three important anti-cancer drugs like Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab have been cut significantly. These drugs are used in the treatment of breast cancer, lung cancer and other types of cancer. The central government recently reduced the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on these three drugs to zero and reduced the GST rate from 12% to 5%. This led to companies being instructed to cut the maximum retail price (MRP) of medicines and pass on the benefit to patients.

Companies have changed the prices of medicines following this directive of the government. For instance, AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd reported a price reduction in many of its formulations. The company said the revised prices will be applicable when new stocks with lower customs duty come up for sale in the market.

Cancer treatment is usually very expensive, and reduction in the prices of these drugs will reduce the financial burden on patients. The move is aimed at making the treatment of cancer patients more accessible and providing relief to patients amid rising cancer rates.

According to a Lancet report, about 12 lakh new cancer cases were registered in India in 2019, out of which 9.3 lakh people died. In view of the increasing cases of cancer, this initiative of the government can prove to be important for patients and their families.