New Delhi, June 10 -- The government has reportedly approved price increases for select life-saving cancer medicines amid the shortage primarily affecting platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin and carboplatin, which are widely used in the treatment of various cancers such as lung, ovarian, cervical, head and neck, bladder, and gastrointestinal cancers.

According to News18 report, the letter written by Department of Pharmaceuticals to Member Secretary, National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) on June 7, stated, "In principle approval of the Hon'ble Minister (Chemicals & Fertilizers) is granted for utilizing para 19 of DPCO, 2013 in respect of aforesaid formulations."

The price revision was approved under Para 19...