A pack of a breast cancer medicine that costs ₹40,421 today will be sold for ₹2,720 from 9 November. That is not a typo. It is the biggest example of the cancer medicine price drop that India’s drug price regulator announced this week, and it could save families thousands of rupees every month.
But not every cancer drug is getting cheaper, and old packs with the old price printed on them will still be on chemist shelves. Here’s what is changing, which medicines are on the list, and exactly how to make sure you pay the new price.
Quick answer
- What: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins at 30% on 137 cancer medicines and published lower prices for 543 brands.
- When: New prices apply from 9 November 2026 at chemists and hospital pharmacies.
- How much: The government expected cuts of up to 70%; some brands fall by more than 90%. Others don’t change at all.
- Check: Search your brand on the Pharma Sahi Daam app or the NPPA website.
- Overcharged? Keep the bill and complain on Pharma Jan Samadhan or call 1800-111-255.
Cancer medicine price drop: what the government announced
On 17 October 2026, the NPPA, which works under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, invoked special public-interest powers under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 to cap the trade margin on 137 “non-scheduled” anti-cancer drugs at 30% of the maximum retail price (MRP), excluding GST.
On 28 October, it released the first list of revised MRPs for 543 brands, based on what companies had reported up to 27 October. The list will be updated as more companies file their prices. Retailers and hospitals must charge the reduced prices from 9 November and display them in their pharmacies, according to the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
The Centre expects patients to save about ₹2,500 crore a year. It has also told manufacturers to keep production at current levels so the cheaper drugs don’t vanish from the market. For more health explainers, see our Health & Fitness section.
Trade margin kya hota hai? Why cancer drugs cost so much
The trade margin is the slice of a medicine’s price kept by the distributors, wholesalers, chemists and hospital pharmacies that sell it. It is the gap between what the company charges the first buyer (the “price to stockist”) and the MRP you pay.
Medicines on India’s essential list (called “scheduled” drugs) already have government ceiling prices. Many newer cancer drugs are “non-scheduled”, so their prices were set freely. An NPPA analysis quoted by PIB found that these cancer medicines carried an average mark-up of about 170% through the supply chain, and 700% or more in some cases.
How the 30% cap works, with a simple example
The gazette notification gives its own example, which Mint reported: a medicine sold to the stockist at ₹70 with an MRP of ₹300 can now carry an MRP of no more than ₹100 plus GST. A 30% margin on the MRP works out to a mark-up of about 43% on the stockist price, far less than before.
This approach has been tried before. In 2019, the NPPA capped margins on 42 cancer drugs at 30%; prices of 526 brands fell by up to 90%, with estimated savings of ₹984 crore a year.
Cancer drugs price reduction list: examples of old vs new MRP
Here are some brands from the NPPA list published on 28 October, as reported by PIB and Hindustan Times. Prices are for the pack size shown.
| Medicine (brand, pack) | Old MRP | New MRP from 9 Nov | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palbociclib (Palbopro, 21 capsules) | ₹40,421.33 | ₹2,720 | 93% |
| Thiotepa 100 mg injection (Samtepa, 1 vial) | ₹80,071.86 | ₹7,150.33 | 91% |
| Anastrozole 1 mg (Anarzole, 10 tablets) | ₹695.76 | ₹73 | 90% |
| Fulvestrant injection (Fulbreca, 5 ml vial) | ₹26,072.16 | ₹5,491 | 79% |
| Denosumab 60 mg (Debrumab, 1 ml syringe) | ₹22,031.25 | ₹5,941 | 73% |
| Bevacizumab 100 mg/4 ml (Bevacizab, 1 vial) | ₹21,767.70 | ₹5,930.13 | 73% |
| Dasatinib 20 mg (Dasanat 20, 60 tablets) | ₹2,812.50 | ₹1,085.93 | 61% |
| Pembrolizumab 100 mg (Keytruda, 1 vial) | ₹2,16,500 | ₹2,16,500 | No change |
Hindustan Times’ analysis of the full list found a median cut of about 43%, but 159 of its 643 entries showed no change at all.
Why some cancer drugs did not get cheaper
The cap only limits what the supply chain adds on top of the company’s selling price. If a brand’s margin was already within 30%, its MRP stays the same. That’s why the Keytruda price in India (₹2,16,500 for a 100 mg vial of pembrolizumab) and the price of the lung cancer drug Tagrisso (₹4,16,492.48 for 30 tablets of osimertinib) are unchanged, HT reported.
So if you searched for the pembrolizumab or osimertinib price and hoped for a big cut, check your exact brand first. Other brands of the same molecule may now cost less, which is worth discussing with your oncologist.
Which medicines are on the NPPA cancer drug list?
The 137 molecules in the gazette’s table cover most modern cancer care, including:
- Immunotherapy: pembrolizumab, nivolumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab and others used for more than 20 types of cancer.
- Targeted tablets: osimertinib, palbociclib, ribociclib, dasatinib, nilotinib, olaparib and more.
- Breast and prostate cancer drugs: anastrozole, fulvestrant, abiraterone, enzalutamide and denosumab (used for bone problems in these cancers).
- Chemotherapy and support drugs: azacitidine, cytarabine, pemetrexed, and pegfilgrastim, which prevents dangerously low white blood cell counts during chemo.
The cap applies to every strength, form and combination containing these molecules, including patented drugs, according to the notification and NPPA’s FAQs. To see the full NPPA price list 2026 for cancer drugs, visit nppa.gov.in, where the list is being updated as companies file.
How to check the new price of your cancer medicine
Use these steps before 9 November, and again every time you refill.
- Note the exact brand, strength and pack size from the prescription or the box. Prices are listed per pack, so a 10-tablet strip and a 30-tablet bottle will differ.
- Search it on the Pharma Sahi Daam app (free on Android and iOS) or the NPPA website. This is the official way how to check medicine price online, and it also shows ceiling prices for scheduled drugs.
- Compare with the bill, not just the pack. The NPPA has told companies that recalling or re-stickering packs already in the market is not mandatory, as long as shops charge the revised MRP. So an old box may show the higher price, but you should be billed the new one from 9 November.
- Ask the chemist politely to apply the revised MRP if the bill shows the old price. Retailers and hospitals are required to display the new price list.
- Ask hospitals for an itemised bill that lists each medicine by brand and batch, so you can check the drug charges separately from day-care, procedure and other fees.
Planning a pharmacy visit around Diwali? Some bank branches will be shut on different days, but UPI and cards still work. Here’s our list of bank holidays in November 2026.
Overcharged? How to complain on Pharma Jan Samadhan
If a chemist or hospital charges more than the notified price after 9 November, you can complain for free:
- Online: the Pharma Jan Samadhan portal at nppaipdms.gov.in, also inside the Pharma Sahi Daam app.
- Phone: NPPA’s toll-free number 1800-111-255 (10 am to 6 pm on working days).
- Email: [email protected]
- Locally: the district Drugs Inspector or your State Drug Controller.
Attach a photo of the bill and the pack (showing brand, batch number and printed MRP).
Other ways to cut cancer treatment cost in India
Cheaper medicines help, but cancer care also involves tests, scans, surgery and hospital stays. A few practical options:
- Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: eligible families get cover of up to ₹5 lakh a year for hospital treatment, including many cancer procedures, at empanelled hospitals. That is the Ayushman card cancer treatment limit, shared by the family.
- Ayushman Vay Vandana card: everyone aged 70 or above can get ₹5 lakh a year of cover regardless of income. Seniors already in a PM-JAY family get an extra ₹5 lakh top-up just for themselves. If your parents get a pension, our DA hike explainer shows how much more they’ll receive this year.
- Ask about other brands: several companies sell the same molecule, and the new list shows big gaps between them. Never switch without your oncologist’s approval.
- Ask about patient assistance programmes: many drug companies run them, and the NPPA asked manufacturers to file undertakings on these programmes as part of this exercise.
- Plan the money: keep a separate medical fund and track monthly drug costs. Our personal finance guides can help.
Caring for someone through cancer is exhausting. Look after yourself too, with these simple self-care habits for busy days.
What the Supreme Court said about medicine mark-ups
The move came while the Supreme Court was hearing petitions on high medicine prices. On 27 October, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked why the government had taken so long to cap cancer-drug margins and why a similar limit could not apply to all medicines, The Hindu and IANS reported. The court reserved its order. So more changes are possible, and the NPPA says its list will be updated periodically.
FAQ: cancer medicine price drop
From when will cancer medicines become cheaper?
From 9 November 2026. Chemists and hospitals must charge the revised MRP from that date, even on older packs.
How many cancer drugs are covered?
137 molecules (the non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs list) are covered by the 30% trade margin cap. The first list of revised prices covers 543 brands, and more will be added.
Is the cancer medicine price reduced in India for all brands?
No. Brands that already had margins within 30%, such as Keytruda and Tagrisso, show no change. Check your exact brand on Pharma Sahi Daam.
What is the palbociclib price in India after the cut?
It depends on the brand. One brand, Palbopro (21 capsules), falls from ₹40,421.33 to ₹2,720. Other brands have different prices.
Has the denosumab price in India come down?
Yes, for many brands. For example, Debrumab 60 mg falls from ₹22,031.25 to ₹5,941 per syringe.
What should I do if the chemist charges the old price?
Show the revised price from the Pharma Sahi Daam app. If they still refuse, keep the bill and complain on Pharma Jan Samadhan, call 1800-111-255, or contact your district Drugs Inspector.
The takeaway
From 9 November, many cancer medicines will cost far less, some by over 90%. But the saving only reaches you if you check. Note your brand, look it up on Pharma Sahi Daam, compare the bill and speak up if you’re overcharged. Share this with anyone in your family on cancer treatment. For more news that affects your health and wallet, see what’s trending, and learn the warning signs of another emergency in our guide to brain stroke symptoms.
This article is for general information and isn’t medical advice. Don’t change, stop or switch any cancer medicine or brand on your own. Please consult your oncologist or doctor before making any change to treatment.
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- DA Hike 3 Percent: How Much Your Salary and Pension Will Rise, and When the Arrears Come
Sources
- PIB (28 Oct 2026): NPPA releases revised MRP for 543 brands of anti-cancer medicines
- PIB (17 Oct 2026): Trade Margin Rationalisation of 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs
- PIB (8 Oct 2026): Government expands cancer medicine price controls; ₹2,500 crore expected savings
- Hindustan Times (29 Oct 2026): Cancer drug prices slashed for 543 brands
- Mint: Centre caps trade margins on 137 cancer drugs
- ETV Bharat (28 Oct 2026): NPPA revises prices of 543 anti-cancer drug brands
- Elets eHealth (28 Oct 2026): NPPA says no recall or relabelling needed, issues FAQs
- The Hindu (27 Oct 2026): SC says economic policy cannot take precedence over lives
- IANS (27 Oct 2026): SC questions Centre’s delay, reserves verdict on medicine pricing
- NPPA IPDMS portal: Pharma Sahi Daam and Pharma Jan Samadhan
- NPPA: Frequently asked questions
- PMIndia: Health cover for all senior citizens aged 70 and above under AB PM-JAY
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