AP Orders Strict Monitoring to Ensure Reduced Cancer Drug Prices Reach Patients

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has directed officials to ensure that patients receive the full benefit of the Centre's recent reduction in cancer medicine prices. He instructed authorities to ensure that even medicines carrying older printed prices are sold at revised lower rates, warning against artificial shortages, overpricing and unnecessary stockpiling.

The Union Government reduced the prices of 1,364 cancer medicines nationwide from November 9, with reductions exceeding 50 per cent for 671 brands and reaching a maximum of 96.45 per cent. Reviewing the implementation in Andhra Pradesh, the minister held a meeting with Health Secretary G. Veerapandian, Drugs Control Department Director General Arun Babu and other officials.

He directed hospitals offering cancer treatment to maintain adequate medicine stocks and ensure that at least one company's product is available at the revised price for every drug. Patients were also advised against bulk purchases, as excessive buying could create shortages for others.

The Drugs Control Department has instructed hospitals to display manufacturers' revised price lists, known as Form V, at pharmacy counters and on their websites. Medicines carrying older printed prices need not be returned to manufacturers or relabelled. However, they must be sold at whichever is lower between the revised price and the printed maximum retail price.

Hospitals must provide detailed bills mentioning the brand name, batch number, maximum retail price and amount collected. Information about patients' rights and complaint procedures must also be displayed in Telugu and English at pharmacies, cancer departments and day-care centres.

Every Drugs Inspector has been directed to inspect cancer hospitals and treatment centres within seven days to verify medicine availability, revised price displays and billing practices. Suppliers and super-stockists will also face inspections.

Officials must respond to complaints about medicine shortages within 24 hours. Strict action will be taken against establishments found overcharging patients, withholding medicines or failing to display revised prices.

Patients can report violations through the Drugs Control Department's WhatsApp number 8632330909, email dca-grams@ap.gov.in, or the NPPA toll-free number 1800-111-255.