India, Nov. 1 -- How will the Centre's decision to cap trade margins on non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines affect drug pricing and distribution in India?

The order seeks to rationalise the trade margins between the price at which medicines enter the distribution chain and the maximum retail price printed on the pack. The cap will affect margins across the supply chain, particularly the movement of medicines from stockists to hospitals and pharmacies. The immediate impact will be on healthcare providers and distribution channels rather than directly on manufacturers' prices. The objective is to ensure that patients receive cancer medicines at lower prices. It is important that the benefits of this intervention reach patients while mainta...