Supreme Court Questions Trade Margin Cap for Cancer Drugs Only
The Supreme Court on October 12, 2026, reviewed the Centre's decision to cap trade margins at 30% for non-scheduled cancer drugs. The court expressed concerns about why this regulation should not extend to other essential medicines, highlighting disparities in pricing where mark-ups can reach 1,000%. The Centre's proposed cap aims to reduce maximum retail prices (MRP) of anti-cancer drugs by 20% to 70%, potentially saving patients ₹2,500 crore annually. The court has given the Centre until October 27 to clarify the implementation details. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority will assess recommendations from an expert committee on which drugs to include under this cap.
Published 1 day ago • 12 Oct 2026, 09:41 PM IST