42 more cancer drugs under price control, profit margin cap at 30%

The NPPA has the right to cap prices of scheduled drugs, or use extraordinary powers in case of other drugs

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has said the profit margin of some anti-cancer drugs has been capped at 30 per cent. The authority has invoked the “extraordinary powers” it had used to cap prices of coronary stents, the NPPA said in a notification.

Under Para 19 of the Drug Price Control Order, 2019, the NPPA can slash prices of drugs that are not part of schedule 1.

Non-scheduled formulations of 42 drugs, which are used to treat cancer have been brought under the price cap. Previously, 57 anti-cancer drugs were under the price control. The trade margin cap would