Why it is in the news
The Centre has decided to cap the trade margin at 30% on 110 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, including 35 patented medicines, according to Department of Pharmaceuticals sources quoted on 9 October 2026. The list covers branded and generic, domestic and imported, patented and non-patented drugs. A committee under the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) is finalising it. The cap is expected within about 10 days, with prices falling by up to 70% in some cases.
The exam angle
Issue: Is trade-margin rationalisation a better tool than ceiling prices for making costly medicines affordable without hurting innovation and availability?