Maximum Retail Price of three anti-cancer drugs to come down
Prices of Trastuzumab, Osimertinib and Durvalumab to come down on account of exemption from custom duty and reduction in GST rates
In line with the Government’s
commitment to ensure the availability of drugs at affordable prices, National
Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has issued an O.M. dated 28.10.2024 directing
the concerned manufacturers to reduce the MRP on three anti-cancer drugs,
Trastuzumab, Osimertinib and Durvalumab. This is in pursuance to the
announcement made in the Union Budget for the year 2024-25 exempting these
three anti-cancer medicines from customs duty. The Department of Revenue,
Ministry of Finance issued Notification 30/2024 dated 23.07.2024 reducing the
custom duty to nil on these three anticancer drugs.
Further, the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
has issued notification no. 05/2024 dated 08.10.2024 notifying the reduction in
GST Rates from 12% to 5% with effect from 10.10.2024 on these three drugs.
Accordingly, there should be a reduction in MRP of these
drugs in the market and benefits of reduced taxes & duties should be passed
on to the consumers. Hence, NPPA vide O.M. dated 28.10.2024 has directed all
the manufacturers of above-mentioned drugs to reduce their MRP. The
manufacturers are required to issue a price list or supplementary price list to
the dealers, State Drugs Controllers and the Government indicating changes and
to submit information regarding price change to NPPA through Form-II/ Form V.