The Health Department has launched the "Karunya Sparsham - Zero Profit Anti-Cancer Drugs" scheme to provide cancer medications at the lowest possible cost. This new initiative aims to make costly cancer treatments more accessible by eliminating intermediaries, ensuring that patients receive these essential drugs directly.

In the first phase, high-priced anti-cancer drugs will be made available through the special counters called 'Karunya Sparsham - Zero Profit Anti-Cancer Drugs'  in 14 selected Karunya Pharmacies across all districts of the state. A total of 250 types of oncology medicines distributed through Karunya Pharmacies will be provided at zero profit, and special employees have been appointed to oversee this initiative.

These counters will charge only a two percent service fee, completely removing the profit margin  received by the Kerala Medical Service Corporation. Medicines will be offered with discounts ranging from 26 % to 96 %. For instance, a drug that usually costs approximately ₹1.75 lakhs will be offered to patients at a 93 percent discount, reducing the price to just ₹11,892.

The first zero-profit special counter was launched at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Through Karunya Pharmacy, over eight thousand branded medicines are available at discounts ranging from 10 to 93 percent off the market price. Currently, there are 75 Karunya Community Pharmacies operating across Kerala, with seven of them open 24 hours a day. Medicines are given at the lowest price through Karunya Pharmacies. Apart from this, the drugs for cancer are given lowest possible cost. 

This new scheme represents a crucial government intervention in the state's cancer drug market by making most cancer treatment drugs available at zero profit. The availability of these low-cost medicines will significantly reduce treatment costs, offering much-needed relief to patients.

List of Karunya Pharmacies Offering Anti-Cancer Drugs:

1. Thiruvananthapuram Medical College
2. Govt. Kollam Victoria Hospital
3. Pathanamthitta General Hospital
4. Alappuzha Medical College
5. Kottayam Medical College
6. Idukki Nedunkandam Taluk Hospital
7. Ernakulam Medical College
8. Thrissur Medical College
9. Palakkad District Hospital
10. Malappuram Tirur District Hospital
11. Kozhikode Medical College
12. Mananthavadi District Hospital
13. Kannur Pariyaram Medical College
14. Kasaragod General Hospital