Karnataka Demands Nationwide Price Caps on All High-Cost Life-Saving Drugs, Not Just Cancer Medicines

Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader on [date] urged the Union government to extend price caps beyond cancer medicines to other high-cost life-saving drugs, stating that price rationalisation should translate into direct savings for patients. The appeal was made in [city], where Khader emphasised that high treatment costs continue to burden patients across the country.

Khader's call comes amid ongoing debates over drug affordability in India, where out-of-pocket health expenses remain a major concern. While the government has implemented price controls on certain cancer drugs, many other essential medicines for chronic and life-threatening conditions remain expensive. The minister stressed that broader measures are needed to ensure that essential medicines are accessible to all, not just those for cancer.

The demand adds pressure on the Centre to review its pharmaceutical pricing policy and consider expanding the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority's (NPPA) scope. If adopted, such a move could significantly reduce treatment costs for millions of patients, but may face resistance from the pharmaceutical industry. The Union Health Ministry has not yet responded to Karnataka's request, and further discussions are expected in upcoming policy meetings.