Anti-Cancer Drug Prices May Fall by Up to 70% as Govt Caps Trade Margin

In a major step to make cancer treatment more affordable, the Central Government has decided to cap the trade margin on all non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines at 30 per cent of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). The decision covers all categories of non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, including branded and generic medicines, as well as domestic and imported, patented and non-patented products.

The government said the move is aimed at curbing excessive trade mark-ups and reducing the financial burden on cancer patients while ensuring that these life-saving medicines remain available in the market. Officials estimate that the measure could bring down the MRP of some anti-cancer drugs by up to 70 per cent.

According to estimates, the decision could help patients save around ₹2,500 crore annually by lowering out-of-pocket treatment expenses. The latest measure builds on a similar intervention introduced in 2019, when the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) capped trade margins on selected anti-cancer medicines. That initiative reduced the prices of 526 brands and generated annual savings of about ₹984 crore for patients.

The government said the decision reflects its continued commitment to affordable, accessible and patient-centric healthcare across the country.