New Delhi. There is relief news for patients undergoing cancer treatment. The central government has decided to extend the benefit of reduction in prices of medicines to the old stock also. Now even those cancer medicines already kept at the medical store will have to be sold at the new lower price, on whose packets old and higher MRP is printed. This means that despite the higher price being written on the medicine packet, the shopkeepers will not be able to charge the old price from the patients.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has issued clear instructions in this regard. Its objective is to ensure that cancer patients get the full benefit of the reduction in drug prices and they are not charged extra money in the name of old stock.
Prices of 137 cancer medicines reduced
NPPA has implemented trade margin rationalization on 137 non-scheduled cancer drugs. Under this, the trading margin has been fixed at a maximum of 30 percent. The new prices have become effective from 9 November 2026. The government estimates that this decision will save patients about Rs 3,540.38 crore every year.
Cheap medicine will be available even on old stock
The biggest thing about this decision is that even if there is old stock of medicine, medical store operators will not be able to charge higher prices. Companies will not be required to put new stickers on the old stock or recall the packets, but will have to sell at the revised price only.
For example, the old MRP of a brand of 120 tablets of 250 mg of Abiraterone Acetate was Rs 30,996, which has been reduced to Rs 5,580. Similarly, there has been a big reduction in the prices of many other cancer medicines.
Action will be taken against charging higher prices
NPPA has directed state drug controllers to ensure compliance with the new price order in pharmaceutical companies, medical stores, distributors and hospitals. If any shopkeeper or institution charges more money by citing old MRP, then action can be taken against him under the Drug Price Control Order 2013.
Actually, this decision of the government is expected to provide great relief to cancer patients. Now the medicines kept in old stock will also be available at the revised price and patients will not have to wait for new stock to avail cheaper medicines.