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Government Caps Trade Margins on Anti-Cancer Drugs at 30 Percent
M
Moneycontrol•08-10-2026, 23:19
Government Caps Trade Margins on Anti-Cancer Drugs at 30 Percent
- •The Centre has decided to cap trade margins at 30 per cent of the MRP for all non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, reducing prices by up to 70 per cent.
- •The initiative is expected to result in an estimated annual savings of Rs 2,500 crore for cancer patients across India.
- •The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority noted that current non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines carry an average price mark-up of approximately 170 per cent.
- •The decision will bring down prices of 110 anti-cancer drugs, including 35 patented medicines, to curb excessive trade mark-ups and mis-selling malpractices.
Key Questions Answered
The Centre has decided to cap trade margins at 30 per cent of the maximum retail price for all non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. This regulatory intervention is expected to reduce maximum retail prices by up to 70 per cent.
The trade margin rationalisation is expected to lead to an estimated annual savings of Rs 2,500 crore for cancer patients and their families.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority approved the proposal for trade margin rationalisation of identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under Paragraph 19 of the DPCO, 2013.
