Try GOLD - Free
PLI boost: Cancer drugs to cost less
Mint Hyderabad
|March 05, 2025
Cancer patients facing prohibitive treatment costs in India can hope for relief.

The nation's top drugmakers have started manufacturing key medicines for such diseases in the country.
India's largest drugmaker Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and its peers Cipla Ltd, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Cadila Healthcare Ltd and Biocon Ltd are making cancer drugs under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, according to information shared by the department of pharmaceuticals with Mint. They are among the 55 companies selected for incentives to produce 175 high-value medicines in India.
At present, most cancer drugs are imported, making them prohibitively expensive. That's when India's cancer burden is expected to rise from 26.7 million life years or DALYS―the sum of healthy life lost to a disease-in 2021 to 29.8 million in 2025, according to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The PLI scheme is a "great boon" as cancer drugs will not only become cheaper in India, but South American and southern African nations will also benefit, said Shyam Aggarwal, chairperson, medical oncology department at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi.
This story is from the March 05, 2025 edition of Mint Hyderabad.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Mint Hyderabad
Mint Hyderabad
When street dogs, cats bring the office closer
When colleagues work towards a collective goal like looking after community animals, it offers them a sense of purpose
4 mins
September 15, 2025
Mint Hyderabad
US, Chinese officials hold talks in Spain
US and Chinese officials began talks in Madrid on Sunday on their strained trade ties, a looming divestiture deadline for Chinese short video app TikTok and Washington's demands that its allies place tariffs on China over its purchases of Russian oil.
1 min
September 15, 2025
Mint Hyderabad
Will We Disprove Yes Minister With Pension Reforms?
In Yes Minister, a TV satire on British politics, Sir Humphrey often stymied urgent reforms by setting up ‘interdepartmental committees.’
3 mins
September 15, 2025
Mint Hyderabad
It's Clear That Gamblers Should Pay More Taxes Than Investors
Investing aids the economy but gambling is simply consumption
3 mins
September 15, 2025
Mint Hyderabad
Q-comm gaming the grocery run
Platforms are leaning on gamification for marketing & retention
2 mins
September 15, 2025
Mint Hyderabad
Why Meme Marketers Hate Congratulations
With more budgets moving to influencer and meme marketing, it's sometimes hard to tell what is an ad and what isn't
4 mins
September 15, 2025
Mint Hyderabad
SonyLIV rolls with duel despite outrage
The broadcaster, streaming Asia Cup for first time, is sure of adding viewers, boosting revenue despite Indo-Pak tensions
2 mins
September 15, 2025
Mint Hyderabad
Govt alert on Cairo pharma payments
The Indian embassy in Cairo has issued a cautionary trade advisory to all Indian pharmaceutical exporters regarding Biomed For Pharmaceutical Industries, an Egyptian firm.
1 min
September 15, 2025
Mint Hyderabad
Digital loans against MFs are fast, but here's what you should know
Do not max out the LTV ratio, do not use it for long-term funding, and keep a watch on market volatility
5 mins
September 15, 2025
Mint Hyderabad
To curb smokeless tobacco use, India targets 100 high-burden districts
Consumption of smokeless tobacco, a leading cause for cancer, remains one of India's biggest public health challenges, with more than one in five people using such products.
2 mins
September 15, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size