New Delhi, India – In a significant move to enhance healthcare affordability, the Indian government has implemented a cap on trade margins for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines. This intervention, effective November 9, 2026, has led to a sharp reduction in the maximum retail prices (MRPs) of more than 1,000 formulations, promising annual savings of an estimated ₹3,502.31 crore for patients.
Under the latest notification, the maximum permissible trade margin across the pharmaceutical distribution chain has been set at 30%. This regulatory action follows recommendations from an expert committee constituted by the Directorate General of Health Services on October 17, 2026.
Significant Price Reductions Across Key Drugs
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) reports that 76 pharmaceutical companies have revised MRPs for 1,225 formulations covering 121 drugs. Notably, 1,031 formulations have seen price reductions, with nearly 600 brands experiencing cuts exceeding 50%. The highest reported reduction stands at an impressive 96.45%.
These reductions span medicines used to treat various cancers, including breast, lung, prostate, ovarian, and blood cancers. Key oncology drugs like bevacizumab, denosumab, abiraterone, palbociclib, enzalutamide, and pemetrexed are among those affected.
- Zydus Lifesciences' Bryxta (bevacizumab 100 mg injection), used for lung, colon, ovarian, and cervical cancers, saw its MRP fall from ₹25,995 to ₹3,318.
- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals' Abirapro (abiraterone), for prostate cancer, reduced its MRP from ₹28,744 to ₹5,768.
- RPG Life Sciences' Palbopro (palbociclib), for breast cancer, dropped from ₹40,421.33 to ₹2,720.
Understanding Trade Margin Rationalisation
This intervention utilizes Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR), a mechanism allowing the government to regulate margins earned by intermediaries. Unlike scheduled medicines, which have direct price ceilings under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), non-scheduled medicines are typically not subject to such direct controls. However, TMR provides an indirect method to control their final retail prices by limiting distributor and retailer margins.
Manufacturers can still undertake annual price increases under DPCO provisions, provided they adhere to the new maximum permissible trade margin. The notification will remain in force until further orders.
Beyond Medicine: The Broader Cost of Cancer Care
While the reduction in cancer drug prices India is a crucial step, experts caution that medicines represent only one component of the overall cost of cancer treatment. Diagnostics, biopsies, imaging, surgery, radiation therapy, hospitalization, and prolonged follow-up consultations continue to impose a significant financial burden on patients and their families.
"A reduction in medicine prices is an important starting point, but the affordability of cancer care cannot be measured by the cost of medicines alone. For patients and families, the financial burden extends to diagnostics, hospitalisation, travel, accommodation and the ability to sustain treatment over several months," stated Sheetal Arora, CEO and Promoter of Mankind Pharma. "The long-term impact of the government's intervention will depend on effective implementation, transparent pricing across the distribution chain and uninterrupted availability of medicines. We also need a more comprehensive approach to financial protection, with insurance and public healthcare programmes addressing the wider costs of treatment."
The financial strain is particularly high for therapies requiring multiple cycles or newer, targeted medicines, and for patients needing to travel to larger cities for specialized care.
Ensuring Access and Implementation
Affordability is also tied to the availability of cancer care facilities. Quality treatment remains unevenly distributed, with specialized oncology hospitals concentrated in major metropolitan centers, leaving smaller cities and towns underserved.
Mayur Sirdesai, Co-Founding Partner of Somerset Indus Capital Partners, highlighted, "Affordability must extend beyond medicines to the broader cancer-care pathway, including screening, diagnosis and treatment. Initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY play an important role in enabling eligible patients to access hospital-based oncology care. Equally important is expanding access to quality treatment across Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets."
The NPPA has directed all stakeholders, including retailers, dealers, hospitals, and medical institutions, to prominently display the revised price lists. State Drug Controllers will monitor compliance. Patients can verify medicine prices via the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application and the NPPA website, with channels available to report violations.
Anil Matai, Director General of the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), welcomed the notification, emphasizing the importance of smooth implementation to ensure benefits reach patients and critical medicines remain available. The government's estimated annual savings underscore the potential impact, but its true success will depend on strict compliance and consistent medicine availability.