India will cut the prices of 137 cancer medicines by up to 70% from November 9, 2026, under new rules aimed at making treatment more affordable. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins on the selected medicines at 30%.
The medicines cover more than 20 types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colon, ovarian and cervical cancers.
The move could reduce the cost of treatment for patients and their families. However, the price cut will vary from one medicine to another.
More Cancer Medicines Face Price Controls
The list includes several widely used cancer drugs.
These include pembrolizumab, bevacizumab, durvalumab and osimertinib. Pharmaceutical companies must submit their revised prices within seven days of the official notification.
Hospitals and pharmacies must then use the new prices from November 9.
The government has also told drug makers to maintain current production and supply levels. This is intended to prevent shortages after the new prices take effect.
The pricing changes cover medicines used to treat a wide range of cancers. This gives the policy a broad effect across India’s cancer treatment market.
Policy Builds on 2019 Price Cuts
The latest move follows a similar policy introduced in 2019. At that time, India capped trade margins on 42 cancer medicines. The government said the move reduced prices by up to 90% across 526 brands.
The latest policy again targets trade margins in the medicine supply chain.
India’s Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said the measure will help reduce the financial burden on cancer patients while limiting excessive margins in drug distribution and retail.
The actual saving for patients will depend on the current price of each medicine and how the new margin cap affects it.
The new prices will come into force on November 9, giving manufacturers, hospitals and pharmacies a short period to update their prices and prepare for the change.
Last modified: October 21, 2026
