India raises ceiling price for two chemo drugs by 50%

India’s drug price regulator has increased the government-set ceiling prices for two essential chemotherapy drugs by 50 percent following weeks of widespread shortages. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) announced the one-time revision for cisplatin and carboplatin injections on June 12, citing a surge in raw material costs and the critical need to ensure their continued availability for cancer patients.

The new ceiling price for a 1 mg/ml vial of cisplatin is now 10.89 rupees, up from 7.26 rupees. The price for a 10 mg/ml vial of carboplatin is now 90.74 rupees, up from 60.49 rupees, excluding taxes. The authority stated the increase was made under special provisions, with federal government approval granted on June 11, and will be reviewed after six months.

The decision responds to an acute shortage that has affected hospitals across the country, particularly government-run facilities. Doctors and the National Cancer Grid had formally flagged the dwindling supplies to the regulator. Cisplatin and carboplatin, often described as the backbone of chemotherapy, are first-line treatments for a range of cancers including ovarian, lung, and bladder cancers.