New Delhi: Cancer patients and their families are expected to receive financial relief as revised prices of 137 non-scheduled anti cancer medicines come into effect across India from November 9, 2026.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins on these medicines at 30% of their Maximum Retail Price (MRP). The measure aims to curb excessive mark ups in the pharmaceutical supply chain and make cancer treatment more affordable.
Price reductions of up to 96.45% reported
- According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), pharmaceutical companies have reported average MRP reductions ranging from 20% to 70%. The highest reported reduction was 96.45%, as of November 4, 2026.
- The estimated savings from the revised prices stand at ₹3,357.49 crore. This estimate is based on the difference between the original and revised prices applied to medicine sales volumes from April 2025 to March 2026.
Which medicines are covered?
The list includes 137 non-scheduled anti cancer medicines, including patented and non-patented drugs.
Some important medicines covered include:
- Pembrolizumab, Durvalumab and Osimertinib – used in cancer treatment.
- Denosumab – used in certain breast and prostate cancer cases.
- Bevacizumab – approved for certain colon, ovarian and cervical cancers.
- Pegfilgrastim – used to help prevent neutropenia in cancer patients.
The medicines include immunotherapy treatments used for more than 20 types of cancer.
Revised prices to apply from November 9
- The NPPA directed pharmaceutical companies to recalculate the MRPs using their average distributor prices from March 2026.
- Companies are required to publish revised price lists on their websites and communicate the new prices to retailers, hospitals and medical institutions. Pharmacies and hospitals must charge the revised prices from November 9 and display the updated rates.
- The government has also instructed manufacturers to maintain existing production and supply levels to prevent shortages of these medicines.
How can consumers check the new prices?
Patients and their families can verify revised medicine prices through:
- The official NPPA website: https://nppa.gov.in
- The Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application.
The NPPA is updating the revised price lists as companies submit their information.
Government’s objective
- The initiative builds on an earlier price control exercise in 2019, when trade margins on 42 selected non-scheduled anti cancer medicines were capped. According to the government, that intervention reduced the MRP of 526 brands by up to 90%.
- The latest measure extends price regulation to a wider range of cancer medicines, with the objective of reducing out-of-pocket expenses and improving access to treatment.
Patients are advised to check the revised MRP of their prescribed medicines from November 9 and consult their treating doctors before making any changes to their treatment.
