Government clears price hike for key cancer drugs to tackle nationwide shortage

The Indian government has greenlit a significant 10-50% price hike for critical platinum-based chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and carboplatin, alongside two anti-tetanus injections, invoking emergency powers under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order of 2013. This unprecedented move, formalized by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on June 7, 2026, aims to alleviate a severe nationwide shortage that has crippled cancer treatment across the country, but immediately sparks concerns over patient affordability. The acute scarcity of these backbone cancer medications stems from a confluence of factors: a staggering 225% spike in raw platinum costs over recent years, with a 100% jump in the last six months alone, fueled by geopolitical tensions in West Asia and production deficits in South Africa. Manufacturers, caught between surging input expenses and rigid government price caps, found production economically unviable, leading to halted output and disrupted supply chains, forcing hospitals like Tata Memorial Centre and AIIMS Delhi to ration doses and delay critical therapies. The crisis has exposed the vulnerability of India's 'pharmacy of the world' model, particularly for essential generics reliant on imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). While the price revision, approved under Para 19 of the DPCO, is intended to incentivize domestic manufacturers such as Naprod Life Sciences and Venus Remedies to resume full-scale production, the immediate future sees cancer patients facing higher treatment costs for these often irreplaceable drugs. The NPPA is now tasked with determining the precise extent of the price increase based on raw material costs, with final notifications expected within days. This development sets a precedent for examining other essential medicines facing similar viability challenges, potentially signaling a broader recalibration of India's drug pricing policies in the face of global supply shocks and rising manufacturing overheads.