New Delhi: The Centre has approved a price increase for four critical medicines, including the widely used cancer drugs Cisplatin and Carboplatin, amid growing concerns over shortages caused by disruptions in the global supply of essential pharmaceutical ingredients.
The decision comes after an inter-ministerial committee reviewed 82 requests seeking upward price revisions under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), 2013. Out of these, only four applications were recommended for approval, including those related to Cisplatin, Carboplatin and two anti-tetanus immunoglobulin injections.
According to government sources, the move was prompted by a sharp rise in the cost of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), production expenses and exchange rate fluctuations, which have made manufacturing several essential medicines commercially unviable. Authorities noted that some pharmaceutical companies had even sought permission to discontinue certain formulations because of mounting losses.
The shortage has become particularly acute for Cisplatin and Carboplatin, two platinum-based chemotherapy drugs considered crucial for treating several major cancers, including lung, ovarian, cervical, bladder, head and neck, gastrointestinal and testicular cancers.
Medical experts from leading institutions, including AIIMS Delhi, Tata Memorial Hospital and several private cancer centres, have warned that the shortage is disrupting treatment schedules and creating serious risks for patients.
An oncology specialist from AIIMS Delhi described the situation as a major threat to cancer care, noting that both drugs form the backbone of treatment for many common cancers. The expert cautioned that prolonged shortages could force doctors to delay treatment or switch to less effective alternatives, potentially affecting survival rates and increasing the risk of disease recurrence.
Industry representatives have attributed the crisis to a global shortage of platinum-based raw materials used in manufacturing the drugs. Rajiv Singhal, General Secretary of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), said the issue stems primarily from supply-chain disruptions rather than pricing concerns. He urged the government to facilitate access to critical raw materials to prevent interruptions in cancer treatment.
Dr. Mansi Khanderia, Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology at SPARSH Hospitals, Bengaluru, said the shortage threatens treatment timelines for patients battling cancers where platinum-based chemotherapy remains the standard of care. She stressed the need for stronger supply-chain planning and monitoring mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted access to life-saving medicines.
Dr. Niti Raizada, Principal Director of Medical Oncology and Hemato-Oncology at Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, echoed similar concerns. She said Cisplatin and Carboplatin play a central role in curative cancer treatments, and shortages could force oncologists to delay therapy or adopt substitute regimens that may not offer the same level of effectiveness.
Meanwhile, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital’s Chairperson of Medical Oncology, Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, said hospitals across the country have been struggling with shortages for several weeks. He estimated that nearly 60 to 70 per cent of patients with advanced cancers require one of the two drugs during treatment.
According to Dr. Aggarwal, pharmaceutical manufacturers have informed the medical community that rising costs of imported APIs, sourced from countries including South Africa and Russia, have made production economically unsustainable under existing government-controlled pricing. As a result, many manufacturers have either reduced or halted production.
Healthcare experts have called on the government to take urgent steps to secure raw material supplies, encourage domestic production and create strategic stockpiles of essential cancer medicines to prevent further disruption.
The government’s decision to allow limited price revisions is expected to help manufacturers resume production and improve availability, although industry and healthcare professionals say long-term solutions will be needed to strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
