Trade margin on 137 anti-cancer medicines capped at 30 per cent of the retail price

6 November 2026

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped the trade margin on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines at 30 per cent of the maximum retail price. Goods and Services Tax is added on top of the revised price. The cap covers patented medicines too, and the revised prices take effect from 9 November 2026. NPPA used Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, which gives the government extraordinary powers in the public interest. Reductions in retail price range from about 20 to 70 per cent, with the largest single cut at 96.45 per cent. As on 4 November 2026, 70 companies had reported revised prices for 120 medicines covering 1,136 stock keeping units. The savings for patients are put at Rs 3,357.49 crore. NPPA works under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.