Cancer drugs at Jan Aushadhi stores

The Punjab health department has issued instructions for "Jan Aushadhi' stores to keep subsidised cancer-treatment drugs.

The hospitals on panel for cancer treatment under the Chief Minister's Cancer Relief Fund would have to purchase these drugs on the rate fixed by the health department, health minister Madan Mohan Mittal said here on Sunday.

"The state government is making these drugs available for a cost way lower than the market price. Some rates are 80% below the maximum retail price (MRP)," said the minister. He also said the hospital on Cancer Relief Fund panel will have to pass on these medicines to the patients within time and the drug list would be displayed prominently at the outpatient departments and chemist's stores of the hospitals.