Cancer drug prices may fall as government plans 30% trade margin cap

NEW DELHI: In a move that could substantially reduce patient bills, govt has decided to cap trade margins at 30% of MRP for all cancer drugs, covering essential, non-scheduled, branded and generic medicines, as well as domestic and patented drugs. This could slash MRPs of life-saving cancer drugs by 20-70%, and result in annual savings of Rs 2,500 crore, while improving affordability and ensuring their continued availability, officials told TOI.