The Committee on Petitions, Rajya Sabha, headed by Narain Dass Gupta, has raised concerns that many cancer drugs remain outside the ambit of current price control mechanisms. In its 163rd report presented on Wednesday, the panel recommended expanding the scope of the Drugs Prices Control Order (DPCO) to include the widest possible range of cancer medicines.
Need for Regular Market Assessments
As reported by newindianexpress, the committee stressed the importance of regular and comprehensive market assessments to monitor prevailing drug prices and availability trends. It urged the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to extend the existing 30% trade margin cap on 42 essential anticancer drugs to also cover cancer vaccines, immunotherapy, and oral chemotherapy.
According to the panel, this expanded regulatory oversight will help contain insurer costs and make cancer insurance products more affordable and accessible to a larger population.
Declaring Cancer a Notifiable Disease
In light of the growing cancer burden in India, the panel recommended declaring cancer a notifiable disease at the national level. This move would ensure systematic reporting, generate real-time data, strengthen surveillance, and enable evidence-based policymaking. While some states have already made cancer notifiable, the committee insisted that a national mandate is essential for uniform documentation and better disease mapping.
Funding Cancer Care Through Tobacco Taxes
The panel proposed that the Centre levy a high-risk cess or heavy taxes on tobacco products. Revenue collected through these measures could then be directed towards cancer research and cancer care across the country.
Expanding HPV Vaccination Nationwide
Highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures, the committee recommended nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. It also urged inclusion of the vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) for girls aged 9–14 years, noting its proven effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer—the most common cancer among Indian women.
Strengthening Screening and Early Detection
The panel emphasised the critical role of early detection in reducing treatment costs and improving survival rates. With over 70% of cancer cases diagnosed at advanced stages (III or IV), treatment becomes costlier and less effective. In contrast, early detection enables better recovery and lower healthcare expenses.
However, due to social stigma and poor awareness, cancer screening uptake remains low across rural and urban India. To address this, the committee called for:
- Scaling up national screening programmes, particularly in underserved regions.
- Community-level screening through primary healthcare centres.
- Mass awareness campaigns to encourage participation.
Expanding Diagnostic Infrastructure
The panel also stressed the urgent need to establish additional diagnostic centres, especially in rural and underserved regions. It recommended developing standardised cancer diagnostic packages under government-regulated health insurance schemes. Such packages would enable wider inclusion of diagnostic centres in insurer networks, thereby extending cashless treatment facilities to more beneficiaries.
Ensuring Quality of Generic Medicines
Acknowledging concerns from medical professionals, the committee highlighted the need to monitor and sustain the quality of generic medicines. It observed that many doctors hesitate to prescribe generics because they are not certified under WHO-GMP (World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices). Ensuring quality compliance would build confidence in prescribing affordable alternatives.
Encouraging Oncology Research
The committee urged the government to encourage private sector investment in oncology research. It also highlighted the lack of coordination between private medical institutions and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding clinical trial approvals, calling for smoother procedures to accelerate innovation.
Addressing Environmental Risk Factors
Finally, the panel recommended a coordinated inter-ministerial strategy—particularly involving the Health, Environment, and Agriculture ministries—to address environmental risk factors linked to cancer. It warned that siloed approaches are counterproductive, and synergy is vital to mitigate long-term health impacts.