Patient Assistance Programs — for Targeted Therapy Drugs in India

Most major manufacturers running targeted therapy drugs in India operate some form of patient assistance program, though the eligibility criteria and process change periodically. The reliable way to find out is to ask your CION counsellor for the current program for your specific prescribed molecule — they track which programs are active, what the income threshold is, and how long approval typically takes. Do not assume a drug has no program without checking, because availability changes as companies update their CSR policies.

Not always. Many manufacturer programs assess eligibility on income rather than requiring a BPL card specifically. Some accept an income certificate from a revenue officer, a bank statement, or a self-declaration where formal documentation is hard to obtain. The exact requirement depends on the company and can differ from one program to the next. Ask your counsellor what each specific program accepts before assuming you are ineligible because you do not have a BPL card.

This varies by manufacturer and by how complete your documents are when you submit. Some programs confirm within a few days; others take two to four weeks. Submit as early as possible — ideally before you need the first cycle — so that approval does not delay your treatment start. Your counsellor can usually tell you the typical timeline for the specific company whose program you are applying to.

CDSCO approval requires a generic to demonstrate bioequivalence to the reference branded product, meaning it delivers the same active molecule at the same dose. Your oncologist will know which molecules have approved generics and whether switching is clinically appropriate for your situation. If you are considering a switch, ask your oncologist directly rather than substituting on your own — some targeted therapies have narrow therapeutic windows where consistency between cycles matters.

This depends on whether your specific CION centre is empanelled under PM-JAY and whether your treatment appears on the PMJAY listed procedure package. Empanelment and package lists are updated periodically, so the current position is best confirmed with your CION counsellor rather than from older information online. If your centre is not empanelled for your specific procedure, they can also advise whether a nearby empanelled centre is an option.

Bring whatever you have from this list: Aadhaar card, ration card or BPL card, income certificate from a revenue officer, last three months of bank statements, the oncologist's prescription, and your diagnosis letter or treatment summary. You do not need all of these to start — the counsellor will tell you exactly what each applicable scheme requires once they have identified which ones fit your situation. Coming with what you have is better than waiting until you have everything assembled.