New Delhi, November 14: Centre has stepped up enforcement of revised pricing norms for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines, directing authorities across the country to ensure that patients receive the full benefit of reduced medicine prices.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, has directed State Drug Controllers (SDCs) to maintain strict surveillance over the implementation of the Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) mechanism, which came into effect on November 9.
The authority has warned pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, stockists, retailers, hospitals and medical institutions against charging prices higher than the revised maximum retail prices (MRPs).
According to the NPPA, updated price lists incorporating information submitted by pharmaceutical companies up to November 11 have been uploaded on its official website and made available through the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application and portal.
All concerned stakeholders have been instructed to comply with the revised prices and prominently display updated price lists at their business establishments and on their respective websites.
The State Drug Controllers have been asked to closely monitor implementation and ensure that the financial benefits are directly transferred to patients, particularly those requiring prolonged and costly cancer treatment.
The NPPA has also cautioned that violations of the revised pricing provisions may invite legal proceedings for overcharging under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
30% TRADE MARGIN CAP IMPOSED ON 137 ANTI-CANCER MEDICINES
Under the revised mechanism, the Centre has introduced a ceiling of 30 per cent on trade margins for 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines to prevent excessive mark-ups throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The NPPA brought these medicines under the Trade Margin Rationalisation mechanism through an order issued on October 17.
The pricing framework covers medicines sold through retail pharmacies as well as hospital pharmacies, including different dosage forms such as tablets and injections. It also applies to medicines marketed individually or in combination formulations.
OVER 650 MEDICINE FORMULATIONS RECORD PRICE CUTS ABOVE 50%
Official figures indicate that 85 pharmaceutical companies had submitted revised MRPs for 121 of the 137 identified medicines by November 9, covering a total of 1,366 stock-keeping units (SKUs).
The highest recorded price reduction stands at 96.45 per cent, while more than 650 formulations have witnessed price reductions exceeding 50 per cent.
The largest number of formulations falls within the 50 to 75 per cent reduction category, highlighting the substantial impact of the revised pricing mechanism.
PATIENTS EXPECTED TO SAVE ₹3,541 CRORE
The Centre has estimated that the revised pricing framework will provide financial relief of approximately ₹3,541 crore to patients.
The estimated savings have been calculated by comparing the earlier and revised prices of medicines against the sales volumes recorded during April 2025 to March 2026, as stated by the NPPA.
The initiative is expected to offer considerable relief to cancer patients and their families, who often face substantial expenditure on medicines during prolonged treatment.
NPPA OPENS COMPLAINT CHANNELS AGAINST OVERCHARGING
To strengthen enforcement and protect consumers, the NPPA has provided dedicated channels through which patients and members of the public can report complaints regarding overcharging, shortages and non-availability of anti-cancer medicines.
Complaints can be registered through.Pharma Sahi Daam: Mobile App and Online Portal.NPPA Helpline: 1800-111-255.Email: monitoring-nppa@gov.in
The State Drug Controllers have further been directed to submit their Action Taken Reports (ATRs) to the NPPA by November 16.
The latest directions underline the Centre’s efforts to strengthen transparency in pharmaceutical pricing and ensure effective implementation of the revised norms, so that the benefits of reduced anti-cancer medicine prices reach patients without unnecessary financial burden.
