The Indian government has taken a significant step to reduce the cost of cancer medications, offering relief to patients across the country. Under a new directive, the trade margin for 137 non-scheduled cancer drugs will now be capped at 30% of the maximum retail price (MRP). The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) announced this decision, promising price cuts as steep as 70% on several cancer medicines.
Government Initiative to Control Drug Prices
This move is part of the Trade Margin Rationalization (TMR) program overseen by the Pharmaceuticals Department under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The program aims to curb excessive margins taken by distributors and retailers within the drug supply chain. By standardizing trade margins, the government intends to make life-saving cancer drugs more affordable for patients battling the disease.
Following the official notification, all drug manufacturers are mandated to inform the NPPA of their revised pricing within seven days. These updated prices will become effective from November 9, 2026. Additionally, manufacturers must publish these price lists on their websites and distribute the information to all retail outlets and hospitals.
Implementation and Transparency Measures
From November 9, 2026, it will be compulsory for retailers and hospitals to charge the revised lower prices. Pharmacies must also clearly display the new prices, while hospitals are expected to prominently post pricing details on their own websites. Consumers can check the adjusted drug prices via the Pharma Sahi Daam app or the NPPA’s official website, improving transparency and helping patients make informed choices.
The government anticipates that by reducing prices, the financial burden on cancer patients and their families will be significantly eased, increasing access to necessary treatments. These measures reinforce the commitment to making healthcare affordable and inclusive.
The list of 137 capped drugs includes immunotherapy medications used for over 20 types of cancer, denosumab for breast and prostate cancers, pegfilgrastim that prevents neutropenia in cancer patients, and bevacizumab approved for colon, ovarian, and cervical cancers. These drugs are essential components of modern cancer treatment protocols.
Widely used cancer drugs such as pembrolizumab, durvalumab, and osimertinib will also see their MRPs made more accessible to the general public. These therapies are critical for treating various aggressive forms of cancer, and their price reduction marks a positive development for patients nationwide.
This action builds on a 2019 NPPA pilot program where trade margins of 42 cancer drugs were limited to 30%, resulting in price cuts of up to 90% on 526 non-scheduled drug brands. The current expansion of this pricing control scheme is expected to produce similar benefits on a larger scale, further improving affordability for cancer patients in India.
