Health · Healthcare & Policy · 1 day ago
Medical device industry seeks markup caps similar to cancer drug limit
India’s National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has approved a cap on the markup of anti-cancer drugs at 30% of their maximum retail price.
The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry wants similar controls for medical devices.
It says the rules must cover imported and domestically made products on equal terms.
Under earlier price controls, the association says, the cap began at the sale to distributors, leaving importers’ margins outside the capped chain.
It says this can make an imported product’s maximum retail price about 43% higher than its domestic equivalent.
The group proposes treating the importer as the first point of sale and piloting controls on selected high-volume consumables to avoid shortages.
It says it is ready to work with India’s Department of Pharmaceuticals and the pricing authority on a national framework.
The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) called for a similar markup cap on medical devices after the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority approved a 30% markup cap on anti-cancer drugs.
AiMeD said the design of a device markup cap would determine whether it works.
The association said earlier caps based on prices at which products were sold to distributors left importers’ margins outside the capped chain.
According to AiMeD, this could leave imported products with maximum retail prices about 43% higher than domestic equivalents.
AiMeD proposed including importers in the capped chain, applying the same rules to imported and domestic products, piloting the policy on selected high-volume consumables, and creating a uniform national framework.
The association said it was ready to work with the Department of Pharmaceuticals and the NPPA on the proposal.
- Who
- The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD)
- What
- AiMeD called for a markup cap on medical devices and proposed how it should be designed.
- When
- October 10, 2026, a day after the NPPA approved a markup cap on anti-cancer drugs.
- Where
- Mumbai, India
- Why
- To rationalise medical-device markups, protect patients from excessive prices and keep supply chains viable.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
AiMeD has been requesting the Department of Pharmaceuticals and the media to bring all stakeholders to the table, so that we reach a consensus that lets every participant in the supply chain earn a fair return, while ensuring no one profits from patients' distress.
The importer's sale to its distributors became a second point of sale, while the domestic manufacturer's sale to its distributors is the first point of sale.
Rationalised, evidence-based, nationally uniform margin bands protect patients and keep supply chains viable.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Anti-cancer drug markup cap
- 30% of MRP, approved by the NPPA
- Reported price difference
- AiMeD said imported products can have an MRP about 43% higher than domestic equivalents.
- Proposed pilot
- Selected high-volume medical-device consumables
- Proposed national framework
- One uniform framework designed in consultation with manufacturers
- Date of report
- October 10, 2026
Sources
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