India will lower cancer medicine prices by up to 70 percent
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India’s National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) decided to cut prices on 137 cancer medicines by as much as 70 percent, starting November 9, 2026.
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers expects this change to lessen the financial strain on people undergoing cancer treatment and their families. The regulations cap trade margins for the selected medicines at 30 percent, affecting treatments for over 20 cancer types, including breast, prostate, colon, ovarian, and cervical cancers.
The government instructed pharmaceutical companies to report new prices within seven days of the announcement and requires hospitals and pharmacies to adopt the lower prices on the effective date. To maintain treatment access, authorities also directed companies to keep production and supply at current levels. This decision builds on a 2019 initiative that capped trade margins on 42 cancer medicines, which lowered prices by up to 90 percent for 526 brands.
The government aims to improve treatment access and limit excessive profits within the pharmaceutical industry, though the extent of price reduction will differ based on current pricing.
