Government Caps Trade Margins On 137 Non-Scheduled Cancer Drugs

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority capped trade margins on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at 30% of the maximum retail price, effective November 9.

The central government estimates the intervention will save patients approximately ₹2,500 crore annually on treatments for cancer, which is a leading cause of catastrophic health spending in India.

Public health experts and researchers noted that the margin cap regulates distributor profits rather than underlying hospital purchase prices, leaving out-of-pocket costs dependent on dealer pricing practices.