For giving cancer treatment at a discount, the government is in talks with drug makers for sourcing medicines. A senior government official informed that these medicines will be sold at government’s low-cost pharmacy chain Jan Aushadhi stores.

At 44Jan Aushadhi stores about 230 unbranded generic medicines are sold and this was launched in 2008 across state-owned hospitals and health centres.

Srikant Jena, minister of state for chemicals and fertiliser said on the sidelines of a seminar organised by industry body CII said, “We are motivating companies that make cancer drugs to supply medicines at a minimal rate to Jan Aushadhi stores.”

Different types of cancers are being suffered by about 25-lakh patients and a majority of them can not pay for even a month’s treatment as they cost somewhere around three lakh rupees.

According to Jena, next week a decision will be taken on the modalities of procurement and pricing of drugs.

Government is making attempts to make cancer medicines affordable for patients by reducing the prices of the drugs.

To share the technological knowhow for making cancer drugs to state-owned companies, Cipla is also in discussions with the department of pharmaceuticals.