Govt caps trade margins on non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at 30% of MRP

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday decided to cap trade margins at 30% of the maximum retail price (MRP) for all non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, according to official sources cited by ANI.The decision will cover branded and generic medicines, as well as domestic and imported drugs, including patented and non-patented medicines. The government said the move is aimed at addressing excessive trade mark-ups and improving the affordability of life-saving cancer medicines while ensuring their continued availability.According to the official sources, the measure could result in up to 70% reduction in the MRP of the affected medicines and is expected to generate estimated annual savings of around Rs 2,500 crore for patients.Under the decision, the trade margin on all non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines will be capped at 30% of their MRP.