Health · Healthcare & Policy · 2 hrs ago
India caps mark-ups on 137 cancer drugs after Supreme Court criticism
India will cap trade mark-ups on 137 cancer drugs from next month.
The move followed a court case brought by Sarojam Radhakrishnan, a retired bank clerk in Kerala who could not afford her breast cancer medicines.
The Supreme Court criticised the high mark-ups charged by hospitals, distributors and chemists, calling them “extortion”.
Some mark-ups averaged 170%, with extreme cases above 700%.
A 30% cap already applied to 42 drugs, and the government is now extending it to 137 more.
The government expects prices to fall by up to 70% and says patients could save 2,500 crore rupees a year.
Lower costs could ease the burden on families who may otherwise struggle to pay for treatment or face debt, and the new cap takes effect next month.
India has imposed a 30% trade-margin cap on 137 additional cancer drugs after Supreme Court criticism of high mark-ups.
The measure is expected to reduce medicine prices by up to 70% and save cancer patients 2,500 crore rupees a year, according to the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
The Supreme Court highlighted an example of a cancer drug supplied to hospitals for 2,700 rupees being priced at 27,000 rupees.
The case followed a petition by Sarojam Radhakrishnan, who could not afford targeted breast cancer treatment.
High treatment costs can push Indian families into debt or lead patients to forgo care.
- Who
- The Indian government imposed the cap after Supreme Court criticism. The case was brought by Sarojam Radhakrishnan.
- What
- A 30% trade-margin cap was imposed on 137 additional cancer drugs.
- When
- The decision was reported on 23 October 2026. The cap was due to take effect the following month.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The move followed Supreme Court findings about high mark-ups and aims to reduce the cost of cancer medicines.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sarojam Radhakrishnan was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Radhakrishnan filed a petition with the Kerala high court seeking government action to lower drug costs.
Supreme Court justices examined mark-ups on cancer drugs during a hearing.
The cap on 137 additional cancer drugs was due to take effect.
- Newly capped drugs
- 137
- Trade-margin cap
- 30%
- Expected price reduction
- Up to 70%
- Expected annual patient savings
- 2,500 crore rupees (£199m)
- Drug price example
- Supplied to hospitals for 2,700 rupees; priced at 27,000 rupees
What people are saying
carnage
extortion
The measure is expected to reduce medicine prices by up to 70% and help cancer patients save 2,500 crore rupees [£199m] annually, significantly reducing the amount they pay from their own pockets
When I ask why, they say they’re too scared – if something serious like cancer is detected, they haven’t got the money to pay for the treatment so they prefer to remain in the dark