New Delhi. There is relief news for patients undergoing treatment for serious diseases like cancer. The central government has capped the prices of many medicines used in the treatment of cancer. The revised prices of 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs have come into effect from 9 November 2026. This decision of the government is expected to reduce the financial burden of treatment on patients and their families.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the maximum trade margin on these medicines at 30 percent under trade margin rationalization. The move will affect the prices of a total of 1,364 formulations from 85 pharmaceutical companies. The government estimates that this decision can save patients about Rs 3,540 crore every year. A maximum reduction of up to 96.45 percent has been reported in the prices of some medicines.
What is the reason behind reducing the prices of medicines?
In fact, apart from the manufacturer's expenses, the profits of distributors and sellers are also included in the final price of medicines. This margin was quite high for many cancer drugs. To control this, the government has set a limit of 30 percent. This will help in reducing the maximum retail price i.e. MRP of medicines.
How to check new MRP?
If someone in your family is undergoing cancer treatment, then definitely check the revised price of the medicine before purchasing it. Pharma Sahi Daam app can be used for this. Apart from this, information about new prices can be found in the Revised Prices section on the official website of NPPA nppa.gov.in. While buying medicine from the medical store, make sure to match the MRP written on the pack and the bill price.
If you ask for more money than MRP then complain here
Even after the new prices are implemented, if any medical store or dealer charges more than the prescribed MRP, patients can complain to NPPA. Helpline number 1800-111-255 can be used for this.
This step of the government is expected to help in making the medicines used in cancer treatment more affordable. Patients are advised to keep in mind both the doctor's advice and the newly determined MRP while purchasing the medicine.