India cuts prices of 137 cancer drugs after court case
In short
- The government will make 137 cancer drugs cheaper from next month.
- The move follows a 2022 case brought to the Supreme Court by a patient who could not afford medicine.
- Poorer patients had been skipping treatment, selling land or falling into debt to pay high prices.
Why the Good News Desk likes this one
The case was filed in 2022 by a retired bank clerk who could not pay for her medicine. The court ruled that mark-ups on some drugs amounted to extortion, and the government has responded with a price cap. The change covers millions of people who face financial ruin if diagnosed.
From The Guardian
Case filed in 2022 by patient unable to afford medicine leads to cap on drug prices for millions who face ruin if diagnosed The Indian government has moved to reduce the price of cancer drugs after a retired bank clerk took her case to the supreme court. From next month, 137 cancer drugs in India will be cheaper as the government tries to tackle the tragedy of poorer patients either forgoing treatment, selling land or falling into debt to meet the high cost of some medicines, which are making large profits for hospitals and pharmacists. Continue reading...
