Health · Healthcare & Policy · 3 hrs ago
Prices of 137 cancer drugs to fall by up to 70% from November 9
India’s drug prices regulator, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, will cut prices of 137 cancer drugs from November 9.
The reductions will be up to 70%, under a new cap limiting trade margins to 30% of the maximum retail price, excluding tax.
The medicines are non-scheduled drugs, meaning they were not covered by the existing price controls, and the list includes patented drugs.
The change follows the Supreme Court flagging cases where the price charged to patients was as much as 10 times the price paid by retailers.
Some of the affected medicines cost up to Rs 5 lakh per vial or pack, so the cuts could reduce costs for patients.
Manufacturers must notify the regulator of revised prices within seven days of the government notification and display the new prices, while hospitals must also show them.
State drug controllers will oversee compliance, and manufacturers must get permission before reducing monthly production to help ensure supplies continue.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has capped trade margins at 30% for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.
Revised prices will take effect on November 9 and are expected to reduce maximum retail prices by up to 70%.
The measure follows concern about large gaps between the prices medicines are sold to retailers for and the prices charged to patients.
A government official said the move aims to make cancer treatment more affordable and improve access to medicines.
A medicines-access advocate warned that other hospital charges could keep treatment costs high.
- Who
- The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) set the caps. The measure covers 137 anti-cancer drugs.
- What
- Trade margins are capped at 30% of the maximum retail price. Revised prices are expected to fall by up to 70%.
- When
- The revised prices take effect on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The measure aims to address excessive trade margins and make anti-cancer medicines more affordable and accessible.
Government
K.M. Gopakumar
Purpose and likely impact
Government
The government says the move aims to make cancer treatment more affordable and improve access to anti-cancer medicines.
K.M. Gopakumar
Gopakumar says the move alone will not lower the overall cost of treatment, as hospitals may charge high prices for other items and services.
The NPPA capped trade margins for 42 anti-cancer drugs, after which prices of 526 brands of non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines were reduced by up to 90%.
The NPPA notified trade margin rationalisation for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.
The revised prices are due to take effect.
- Drugs covered
- 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs
- Trade margin cap
- 30% of maximum retail price
- Expected price reduction
- Up to 70%
- Effective date
- November 9, 2026
- Reference month for price calculations
- March 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
The move is aimed at making cancer treatment more affordable, and improve access to anti-cancer medicines
Price of these medicines even after margin cap will remain out of reach of many people. The move alone will not bring down the cost of treatment because hospitals may find ways to charge high prices on other items, consumables, diagnostics, consultation charges, etc