New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI): A significant portion of cancer medications remains outside the remit of the current pricing controls, a Parliamentary panel has observed. They have recommended that the scope of the Drugs Prices Control Order needs to be expanded to include a broader range of cancer drugs.
In the 163rd report presented by the Committee on Petitions, Rajya Sabha, headed by Narain Dass Gupta, it was emphasized that comprehensive market evaluations should be regularly conducted to monitor current drug prices and availability trends.
The panel acknowledged the progress made in recent years towards improving the regulatory framework for cancer drug pricing and enhancing affordability. However, they noted that a significant number of these drugs remain outside the current price control mechanisms.
With the introduction of the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022, the number of anti-cancer medications under price control increased from 40 in 2011 to 63 in 2022. Yet, many oncology drugs are not governed by the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, keeping them exempt from any statutory price limits, it noted.
This exclusion leads to prohibitively high pricing, limiting access for many patients. The report suggests the creation of a robust oversight mechanism to periodically review regulatory effectiveness and identify gaps.
Implementing these recommendations could greatly reduce the financial strain on cancer patients and their families. The Committee further advocated for consistent monitoring and maintaining the quality of available generic medicines. There is hesitance among medical professionals to prescribe these due to their lack of WHO-GMP certification.
Although there are provisions for rapid access to new cancer treatments, issues such as regulatory delays, limited domestic R&D, and pricing barriers hinder equitable access. Enhancing domestic research infrastructure, prioritizing value-based approvals, and supporting local development of novel oncology therapies are recommended measures.
The panel urged the government to foster research within the private sector and encourage pharmaceutical companies to invest in advanced oncology research. A lack of coordination between private medical institutions and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding clinical trial approvals was noted, suggesting collaboration to optimally benefit patients.
The Committee called for the swift adoption of effective field technologies, like Magna-visualisers, and the national expansion of gallbladder cancer risk mapping, particularly in high-risk and underserved regions.
Investment in regional prevention strategies and health literacy programs, especially in high-incidence areas like the Northeast, should be significantly increased, the report stated.
Institutions such as the India Cancer Research Consortium should be mandated to release annual performance and progress reports to showcase the translation of research into clinical practice. Systems to track patient outcomes and evaluate treatment guideline cost-effectiveness should be developed to support evidence-based policy making.
The Committee emphasized the need for system-wide improvements to ensure effectiveness, equity, and responsiveness in cancer treatment outcomes in India. Recommendations included regular audits and structured training workshops to enforce adherence to SOPs across diagnostic and research labs.
Recognizing the National Program for Palliative Care's rollout, the Committee recommended its wider dissemination to reach more patients. Outcomes of palliative care should be tracked with robust indicators to assess the impact on patients' quality of life.
These measures aim to create a data-driven, patient-centered, and outcome-focused cancer care ecosystem. Enhanced use of data from the National Cancer Registry Programme to formulate state-specific policies and establish a Clinical Trial Outcome Registry for informed decisions, transparency, and accountability was also suggested.
Continued cooperation between central and state governments, public-private partnerships, and community involvement is crucial for maintaining momentum and ensuring equitable cancer care.
According to AIIMS, Jhajjar, initiatives like population-based screening for common cancers and Day Care Centre openings are positives of the NPCDCS program, the panel noted.
To improve robustness, district-level facilities for early cancer diagnostics should be enhanced, and the Cancer Registry Programme and NPCDCS should be integrated for data-driven cancer service planning and implementation.
A focus on cancer awareness and behavior change activities is required to combat the stigma associated with the disease. Radiotherapy and Day Care Centres should be decentralized phase-wise for better cancer detection and early management, the Committee concluded.
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
