Government Order Lowers Maximum Retail Price for Hundreds of Oncology Drugs

A Gazette notification dated October 17 mandates the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority to enforce a 30 % trade‑margin cap on 137 non‑scheduled cancer drugs. The cap is expected to trim the Maximum Retail Price of many medicines by up to 70 %, with the revised figures taking effect on 9 November 2026. The measure expands on a 2019 trial that limited margins on 42 anticancer drugs and produced price cuts of up to 90 % for a wide range of brands. A committee of senior oncologists, health experts and officials curated the list, which will be refreshed periodically. Manufacturers are required to report the new MRP within seven days of the notification, display it on their websites, and disseminate it to all retail outlets and hospitals. The order seeks to protect patients from exorbitant treatment costs and promote equitable access to life‑saving therapies.