NPPA Cuts MRP of 1,364 Anti-Cancer Formulations from 9 November

Cancer medicines became cheaper across the country on 9 November 2026. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has placed a ceiling on the trade margin that may be built into the maximum retail price of cancer drugs, and the reworked rates apply from that day. No chemist and no hospital pharmacy may now charge more than the new printed price.

Who took the decision

The authority functions under the Department of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Its order covers 137 anti-cancer drugs. It rests on the advice of an expert committee set up by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whose recommendations are dated 17 October 2026.

How far the prices fell

Drug makers had to work out the new ceilings and report them to the regulator. By 8 November 2026, 85 pharmaceutical companies had filed revised retail prices for 1,364 anti-cancer formulations, which together cover 121 drugs. The cut crossed half the old price in 679 brands, and the steepest single reduction reported to the authority was 96.45 per cent. Adding up every reported cut, the regulator expects buyers of these medicines to be spared roughly Rs 3,540.38 crore in a year.

What a patient should do

The revised rate is printed on the medicine pack, so the first check is the pack itself. The price can also be looked up on the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile app or on the NPPA website. If a shop or a hospital pharmacy bills more than the ceiling, the buyer can complain on the Pharma Jan Samadhan portal or ring the NPPA helpline on 1800-111-255.

Why the trade margin matters

A trade margin is the share of the retail price that is taken between the manufacturer and the counter. Capping it leaves the medicine itself unchanged but shrinks what is added on the way to the patient, which is why a single order was able to reduce prices in hundreds of brands at once. Cancer treatment usually runs over many months, so a lower ceiling on each pack keeps adding up for a family through the course of therapy.