India caps trade margins on 137 cancer drugs, with new prices from November 9

India will apply new retail-price limits to formulations containing 137 listed cancer drugs from November 9, under an October 17 order from the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. Saturday's order sets the implementation date for a policy announced earlier this month.

The trade margin is capped at 30 percent of the retail price before GST. In the order's example, a medicine sold to a distributor for ₹70 can carry a maximum retail price of ₹100 plus applicable GST. Existing lower prices must stay.

Manufacturers must report revised prices within seven days of the order's publication and maintain production levels unless the authority permits a reduction. The rules also cover medicines supplied directly to hospitals. Hospitals must monitor compliance and display the revised prices on their websites.