Cancer patients across India can expect a significant reduction in treatment costs after the National Cancer Grid (NCG) negotiated discounts of up to 85% on key cancer medicines through bulk procurement. The move is expected to make life-saving drugs more accessible, especially in remote and rural areas where high transport costs previously deterred pharmaceutical companies from supplying medicines.
Fifty Hospitals to Benefit Immediately
The discount will initially apply to fifty hospitals under the NCG network, with plans to expand the benefit to all member institutions in the future. The NCG, funded by the Department of Atomic Energy, is a collaborative network of over 380 healthcare institutions, research centres, and NGOs across India and 15 other countries.
Announcing the initiative at the NCG annual meeting at Tata Memorial Centre, NCG convenor and Tata Memorial Centre director Dr. C.S. Pramesh said the programme’s goal is to ensure patients receive high-quality drugs at affordable prices.
Building on a Successful Pilot
This is the second cycle of the programme, following a pilot project launched in 2019. The pilot involved 40 drugs supplied to 23 healthcare centres at discounted rates through bulk procurement. The success of that model prompted a broader rollout.
Dr. Pramesh explained that pharmaceutical companies were earlier hesitant to supply essential drugs to smaller hospitals due to low demand and high distribution costs. Now, with assured bulk demand, companies have agreed to guaranteed supply, reducing stockouts in rural hospitals. “This is especially beneficial for patients with advanced-stage cancers, who need larger quantities of medicines,” Dr. Pramesh said.
Wide Range of Medicines Covered
The initiative spans chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapy, supportive care medicines, antibiotics, antifungals, and at least 260 other essential drugs. “The cost reduction will not only lower out-of-pocket expenses for patients but also free up hospital budgets for critical initiatives,” Dr. Pramesh added.
Doctors and Experts Welcome the Move
Dr. Sangeeta Mudaliar, head of hematology oncology at BJ Wadia Hospital, emphasized that chemotherapy is one of the most expensive components of cancer care. Lower drug prices will significantly reduce treatment costs, especially for charitable hospitals.
Alka S. Bisen, CEO of Cancer Patients Aid Association, noted that medicines form the largest share of cancer treatment costs, often forcing families to spend heavily out of pocket. Until now, patients bought drugs at maximum retail price (MRP), with only a few hospitals like Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) offering subsidized medicines. “With group procurement, over 200 drug types will now be available at much lower prices across NCG-member hospitals,” Bisen said.
Better Access and Timely Care for Rural Patients
Bisen added that this initiative will reduce delays in treatment, especially for patients in rural districts, where specialized cancer centres are scarce. With new cancer centres opening under the NCG umbrella, patients can now receive timely treatment closer to home, reducing the pressure on big-city hospitals like TMH in Mumbai. “This collective effort ensures that many who simply could not afford cancer therapy earlier can now access treatment,” she said.
Patients Welcome the Move
As reported by hindustantimes.com, patients and caregivers have hailed the decision, noting that affordable and timely access to medicines will reduce financial stress and improve overall cancer care accessibility across India.
