Government Caps Trade Margins on Cancer Drugs to Make Treatments More Affordable
The Indian government has limited trade margins on cancer medications, potentially reducing prices by up to 70% for patients.
New Delhi, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian government has announced a significant measure to ease the financial burden on cancer patients. As of November 9, 2026, the trade margins on 137 non-scheduled cancer medications will be capped at 30% of the maximum retail price (MRP). This decision, made by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), is expected to lower the prices of many cancer treatments by as much as 70%.
This initiative falls under the Trade Margin Rationalization (TMR) program, which aims to curb excessive margins in the distribution chain. Following the publication of the official gazette, all manufacturers must inform the NPPA of their revised prices within seven days. They are also required to display the updated price list on their websites and notify all retailers and hospitals.
Starting November 9, 2026, retailers and hospitals will implement these lower prices and display the revised rates in their pharmacies. Hospitals will also feature the updated pricing prominently on their websites. Consumers can verify the new prices using the Pharma Sahi Daam app and the NPPA website.
The government asserts that this initiative will make cancer treatments more affordable and accessible, thereby reducing the financial strain on patients and their families. Among the 137 drugs affected are immunotherapy medications for over 20 types of cancer, denosumab for breast and prostate cancer patients, pegfilgrastim for preventing neutropenia in cancer patients, and bevacizumab for treating colon, ovarian, and cervical cancers.
This regulatory change builds on a successful pilot program initiated by the NPPA in 2019, where trade margins for 42 cancer drugs were similarly limited to 30%. Following that initiative, the MRP for 526 brands of non-scheduled cancer drugs dropped by up to 90%.
