NPPA orders strict controls to enforce price cuts of 137 cancer drugs | Today’s news
New Delhi: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has ordered strict nationwide monitoring to ensure that patients benefit from the recent reduction in prices of 137 non-scheduled cancer drugs.
In an office memorandum issued on November 11, the price regulator directed all State Drug Controllers (SDCs), State Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) and Price Monitoring and Resourcing Unit (PMRU) to enforce compliance with the Trade Margin Rationalization (TMR) framework. The revised rates were announced through a notification dated October 17 and came into effect on November 9.
“The SDC will submit an action taken report to the NPPA by November 16, 2026,” the memorandum said.
Citing the latest revised price list submitted by pharmaceutical companies on November 11 – and uploaded to the website NPPA website and Pharma Sahi Daam portal – Authority warned stakeholders against non-compliance.
“All manufacturers, retailers, dealers, traders, hospitals and healthcare facilities must ensure compliance with the reduced/revised prices. Any violation of these guidelines will result in the initiation of overcharging proceedings under the applicable provisions of DPCO, 2013,” the memorandum said.
To prevent arbitrary billing in retail and hospital pharmacies, the directive mandates transparent publication of prices. “Each retailer/retailer/hospital/medical facility is required to prominently display the revised price lists/supplementary price lists in their respective business premises and websites,” it said, adding that “hospitals and medical facilities are required to monitor the MRP of the preparations as per the said order and ensure compliance.
Besides, “to ensure that the benefits of the revised MRPs are passed on to the patients, the SDCs will strictly monitor the compliance of the said order by the manufacturers, vendors, hospitals and medical facilities who will assist the SDCs in the same,” it said.
Sharp price cuts
The enforcement push follows the NPPA’s October 17 crackdown under the Drugs (Price Control) Ordinance 2013, which capped trading margins at 30% MRP — meaning a maximum markup of 42.86% on the trader’s price — to curb exorbitant markups of up to 700% in the non-scheduled oncology market.
According to a market analysis cited in the NPPA proceedings, India’s domestic cancer drug market is valued at roughly ₹12,500 crore annually, of which over ₹10,250 crore includes non-scheduled formulations outside the direct control of price ceilings.
Subsequent company filings have shown retail price reductions of more than 90% for several high-cost therapies. Notable cuts included dropping thiotepa (100 mg vial of Samtep). ₹72,921.53 or 91.1% of ₹80,071.86 to ₹7,150.33 and breast cancer drug palbociclib (Palbopro 125 mg) fell 93.3% from ₹40,421.33 to ₹2,720. Widely prescribed therapies such as pertuzumab, olaparib and abiraterone acetate also saw large downward revisions, with total annual patient savings estimated at ₹2,500 million crowns ₹3,541 crores.
The regulatory crackdown also comes amid increased Supreme Court scrutiny questioning why distributor margin limits should remain limited to select cancer drugs rather than broader pharmaceutical segments.
To curb supply disruptions or hidden overcharging, the memorandum noted that “any violation or complaints of overcharging, shortage or unavailability can be reported to NPPA through Pharma Sahi Daam App/Portal; Helpline No. 1800-111-255; Email ID- monitoring-nppa@gov.in.”
