
Study flags problems in availability and prices of anti-cancer drugs
A new study has shown that availability of essential drugs for treatment of childhood cancers was well below the World Health Organisation (WHO)-prescribed standards in both public and private sector pharmacies even in the national capital, Delhi.
The survey looked into availability of 33 essential anti-cancer medicines in four public and three private hospitals as well as 32 private retail pharmacies. It was found that their mean availability was a mere 70 per cent as against the WHO’s norm of at least 80 per cent.
The situation was, however, somewhat better in private hospitals over public hospitals and private retail pharmacies. Private hospitals recorded availability of 71 per cent, while public hospitals reported 43 per cent and retail pharmacies 38 per cent.
The study has...