Indian cancer patients face drug shortage due to Iran war:High input cost supply disruptions force companies to cut manufacturing

Many cancer patients in India are struggling to find a key drug, cisplatin, according to news agency, Reuters. These drugs use platinum and are key for treating various types of cancers like liver, lung, ovary, and gall bladder. Reportedly, hospitals, especially government ones, are running low on these drugs. Patients have to search hard to get this drug. Supplies of cisplatin and carboplatin have been tight for weeks. Why is this happening? India buys most of its platinum from other countries, such as South Africa. Platinum prices have gone up a lot because of low supply from mines, high demand and prices, and Iran war led disruptions. One company said the price jumped from about ₹2,000 per gram to ₹5,000 in one year, Drug makers in India make these cheap generic drugs. Big names include Cipla and Intas, plus smaller firms like Naprod Life Sciences and Venus Remedies. Some companies have stopped or cut making the drugs because the raw material costs are too high. Naprod Life Sciences has paused production of cisplatin and carboplatin for now. Companies urge govt to approve price increasing approval The Indian government sets maximum prices for these medicines. Drug makers say they cannot cover the higher costs, so they have asked for a price increase of about 50%. The government has not replied yet. One company leader said if prices do not rise, more shortages will happen and patients will suffer.