DIVYA DELHI : In a major move aimed at making cancer treatment more affordable, the Indian government has announced tighter price controls on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines. The revised prices will come into effect from November 9, 2026, with the maximum retail prices (MRPs) of the affected medicines expected to fall by up to 70%, depending on their existing price structures. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins on the identified medicines at 30%. The list includes several widely used cancer treatments, including medicines used in immunotherapy and therapies for breast, prostate, colon, ovarian and cervical cancers. The government said the decision is intended to curb excessive margins in the medicine supply chain and reduce the financial burden on patients and their families. Officials expect the measure to help cancer patients save around ₹2,500 crore annually. Pharmaceutical companies have been directed to submit revised prices to the NPPA and publish the updated MRPs. Hospitals and pharmacies will also be required to charge and display the revised prices from November 9.The latest decision builds on a 2019 initiative under which trade margins on 42 anti-cancer drugs were capped. The government has also directed manufacturers to maintain existing production levels to prevent shortages and ensure continued availability of essential medicines.
