- The Central government has decided to cap trade margins on non-scheduled cancer drugs at 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). - The move aims to make anti-cancer medications more affordable and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for patients suffering from cancer. - The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) exercises statutory powers to monitor and regulate drug prices in India to curb exorbitant margins charged across the supply chain. - **National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority:** An independent regulatory body established under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers to fix and revise prices of pharmaceutical products and enforce the provisions of the DPCO in India. - **Drugs Prices Control Order:** An order issued by the Government of India under the Essential Commodities Act to regulate the prices of essential medicines and cap trade margins to prevent overpricing. - **Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers:** The central ministry in India responsible for policy formulation, regulation, and development of the chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries, including drug pricing oversight. **Introduction** The Indian government has moved to cap trade margins on non-scheduled cancer drugs at 30% of the MRP to address high out-of-pocket healthcare costs and make critical oncological therapies more accessible and affordable. **Core Issue and Detailed Points** - The Central government has decided to cap trade margins on non-scheduled cancer drugs at 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). - The move aims to make anti-cancer medications more affordable and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for patients suffering from cancer. - The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) exercises statutory powers to monitor and regulate drug prices in India to curb exorbitant margins charged across the supply chain. **Key Statutory Bodies, Acts & Concepts** - **National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority:** An independent regulatory body established under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers to fix and revise prices of pharmaceutical products and enforce the provisions of the DPCO in India. - **Drugs Prices Control Order:** An order issued by the Government of India under the Essential Commodities Act to regulate the prices of essential medicines and cap trade margins to prevent overpricing. - **Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers:** The central ministry in India responsible for policy formulation, regulation, and development of the chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries, including drug pricing oversight.