The prices of drugs including oncology drugs are regulated as per the provisions of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare publishes the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) which is incorporated as Schedule-I of DPCO, 2013 by Department of Pharmaceuticals. The medicines under Schedule-I are mentioned according to their therapeutic category. Anti-cancer formulations are listed in the Schedule-I of DPCO, 2013 under the Section-7, “Anti-cancer agents including Immunosuppressives and Medicines used in Palliative Care”.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the ceiling prices of 131 anti-cancer scheduled formulations as listed in Schedule-I. All manufacturers of scheduled medicines (branded or generic) have to sell their products within the ceiling price (plus applicable Goods and Service Tax) fixed by the NPPA.
NPPA also fixes retail price of ‘new drug’ as defined under para 2(1)(u) of DPCO, 2013 As on 27.01.2026, NPPA has fixed the retail price of 54 drugs under the Anti-Cancer therapeutic category. Further, in case of non-scheduled formulations, their prices are monitored and manufacturer of such formulations are required to not increase the maximum retail price of that formulation by more than 10% of the maximum retail prices during the preceding 12 months. Accordingly, prices of all oncology medicines are covered under DPCO, 2013 either by way of price control by fixation of ceiling / retail price or by regulating the increase of price under para 20 of DPCO, 2013.
