Prices of 137 anti-cancer medicines are set to fall by up to 70% from November 9 after the NPPA capped trade margins at 30% of MRP. Here is what patients need to know about the covered drugs, revised prices and implementation.
Mumbai: Cancer patients in India are set to receive potential financial relief as prices of 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines are reduced by up to 70% from November 9, 2026. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, has introduced the measure to address excessive trade margins in the distribution and retail of cancer medicines.
The price-control intervention follows concerns about the substantial gap between the prices at which medicines are supplied to retailers and the maximum retail prices charged to patients. The Supreme Court had also flagged cases in which the difference between these prices was particularly large.
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Under the new notification, the NPPA has capped trade margins at 30% of the MRP, excluding GST, invoking Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013. The actual reduction will vary depending on the existing price structure of each medicine.
Which cancer medicines are covered?
The list includes 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines, covering treatments used for different types of cancer. These include immunotherapy drugs, medicines used in breast and prostate cancer care, and drugs that help prevent complications associated with cancer treatment.
According to the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the identified medicines include:
- Pembrolizumab: An immunotherapy medicine used to treat certain cancers.
- Durvalumab: An immunotherapy drug used in the treatment of specific cancers.
- Osimertinib: A targeted therapy used for certain types of lung cancer.
- Bevacizumab: A medicine used to treat several cancers, including certain cases of colorectal, ovarian and cervical cancer.
- Denosumab: A medicine used in some patients with breast or prostate cancer to address bone-related complications.
- Pegfilgrastim: A medicine used to help prevent neutropenia, a condition involving abnormally low levels of neutrophils, in patients undergoing certain cancer treatments.
The notification also covers medicines such as pertuzumab plus trastuzumab, atezolizumab, teclistamab, inotuzumab ozogamicin and daratumumab. Some of these medicines have MRPs reaching several lakh rupees per vial or pack.
The inclusion of patented medicines is significant because certain newer cancer treatments can carry substantial costs for patients and their families.
When will the revised prices take effect?
The revised prices will come into effect on November 9, 2026. Manufacturers must inform the NPPA of their revised prices within seven days of publication of the Gazette notification.
They must also publish updated price lists on their websites and communicate the revised rates to retailers and hospitals.
Hospitals, medical institutions and pharmacies will be required to charge the revised prices from the implementation date. Hospitals must also prominently display the updated prices on their websites.
The NPPA has directed state drug controllers to take the necessary steps to ensure compliance among manufacturers, distributors, retailers and healthcare institutions.
Why has the government introduced the measure?
The decision aims to address excessive margins in the distribution and retail chain for cancer medicines. By limiting the trade margin, the regulator expects to reduce the prices paid by patients without directly imposing the same price-control mechanism used for scheduled formulations.
The intervention follows the NPPA's 2019 pilot exercise, under which trade margins for 42 anti-cancer medicines were capped at 30%. According to the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the earlier initiative led to price reductions of up to 90% across 526 brands of non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines.
The latest measure extends the approach to a larger group of 137 medicines, following recommendations from an expert committee under the Directorate General of Health Services. The committee included oncologists, medical specialists, hospital experts and government officials.
Measures to prevent shortages
Alongside the price changes, the NPPA has stressed the need to maintain uninterrupted supplies of the affected medicines.
Manufacturers intending to reduce monthly production levels of the notified formulations will need to obtain permission. The requirement is intended to prevent shortages arising from the implementation of the new margin limits.
The regulator has also highlighted the responsibility of hospitals and medical institutions, which receive substantial quantities of anti-cancer medicines directly from manufacturers or distributors, to ensure that the revised prices are implemented on time.
How patients can check the revised prices
Patients and caregivers will be able to check medicine prices through the NPPA website and the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application.
Before purchasing a medicine, patients can compare the displayed MRP with the revised price list and ask the pharmacy or hospital to clarify any discrepancy.
Patients should consult their treating oncologist before making any changes to prescribed medicines. The price revision concerns the cost of eligible formulations and does not mean that all cancer medicines will become cheaper by the same percentage.
What the price cap means for cancer patients
The intervention could reduce out-of-pocket spending for patients who need the medicines included in the notification. This is particularly relevant for treatments that require repeated doses or medicines with high prices per vial.
However, the announced reduction of up to 70% is not a uniform discount applicable to every medicine. The final price will depend on the existing price structure and the revised MRP calculated under the NPPA's rules.
The measure also focuses on trade margins rather than eliminating all the costs associated with cancer treatment. Hospital charges, diagnostic tests, consultations, supportive medicines and other treatment expenses may continue to contribute substantially to the overall financial burden.
What happens next?
The effectiveness of the measure will depend on whether manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies and hospitals implement the revised prices from November 9.
The production and supply requirements will also be important in ensuring that lower prices do not coincide with reduced availability. Patients can use the NPPA's published price information to verify the revised rates and report potential discrepancies to the appropriate authorities.
The government has said the list of medicines may be updated periodically, allowing the regulator to consider additional medicines in the future.
Published: 18 Oct 2026, 09:35 am IST
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