In public interest, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has carried out Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) of 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs to tackle excessive trade margins, make cancer treatment more affordable and widen access to anti-cancer medicines. Depending on their existing price structures, the MRP of the identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs is expected to come down by up to 70% as a result of this intervention.
The 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs include Immunotherapy drugs used to treat over 20 type of cancers, Denosumab used by breast and prostate cancer patients, Pegfilgrastim used to prevent neutropenia in cancer patients, and Bevacizumab, the approved drug for colon, ovary and cervical cancer. Following this notification, the MRP of widely used anti-cancer drugs such as Pembrolizumab, Durvalumab and Osimertinib is expected to become more accessible for cancer patients.
The move builds on the success of NPPA's 2019 pilot TMR exercise, in which trade margins for 42 anti-cancer drugs were capped at 30%. After that exercise, the MRP of 526 brands of non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines was reduced by up to 90%. The current exercise applies the same approach to a larger group of anti-cancer drugs, based on the list recommended by the Expert Committee under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The Expert Committee was made up of leading oncologists, medical specialists, experts from hospitals across the country and Government officers. After deliberations, it recommended 137 drugs for inclusion under TMR. The list would be updated from time to time. Considering the drugs recommended by the Committee, NPPA has capped trade margin at 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), in accordance with Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013. The Gazette notification dated October 17, 2026 can be found on the official website of NPPA https://nppa.gov.in/en . The measure is expected to offer significant relief to the many patients and families affected by cancer, who often carry a heavy financial burden because of the high cost of treatment.
Within 7 days of publication of the Gazette notification, all manufacturers will be required to inform NPPA of their revised prices. The revised prices will come into effect from November 9, 2026. Manufacturers will be required to display the price lists on their website and circulate them widely to all retailers and hospitals. All the retailers and hospitals shall charge reduced prices effective 9th November, 2026 and display the revised prices in their pharmacies. Hospitals shall also display the revised prices prominently on their websites. Consumers can check the revised prices of drugs using the Pharma Sahi Daam app and the NPPA website.
Since a substantial share of anti-cancer drug supply goes directly to hospitals and medical institutions, they shall be responsible for ensuring the revised prices of such drugs from the date of implementation. State Drug Controllers will take the necessary steps to ensure compliance by manufacturers, dealers including retailers, hospitals and medical institutions.
The TMR measure on anti-cancer drugs aims to curb excessive trade margins in the distribution and retail channel, while protecting legitimate manufacturer revenues and preventing artificial market shortages. To ensure timely and uninterrupted access for patients, pharmaceutical companies will be required to maintain current production and supply levels for the notified formulations.
By making anti-cancer drugs more affordable and accessible, the initiative will help reduce the financial burden on patients and their families and support the wider public-health goal of equitable access to cancer treatment.