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Govt Caps Trade Margins on Chemo Drugs
17 Oct
Summary
- Trade margins on 137 anti-cancer drugs are capped.
- Prices of these drugs could drop by up to 70%.
- Revised prices become effective from November 9.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins on 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. This regulatory move aims to enhance the affordability and accessibility of cancer treatments for patients across India.
The revised pricing is anticipated to decrease the maximum retail price (MRP) of these crucial medications by up to 70%, contingent upon their existing price structures. These new prices will be implemented starting November 9.
This intervention follows a successful 2019 pilot exercise where trade margins for 42 anti-cancer drugs were capped at 30%. That initiative led to MRP reductions of up to 90% for 526 brands. The current, expanded exercise incorporates 137 drugs, recommended by an expert committee comprising oncologists and medical specialists.