Goa, Oct. 8 -- The central government has introduced a major regulatory intervention to improve the affordability of life-saving treatments, capping trade margins at 30% of the maximum retail price (MRP) for all non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.

According to official sources, the directive applies broadly across the pharmaceutical market. It covers both branded and generic medicines, domestically manufactured and imported products, as well as patented and non-patented formulations. By reining in excessive trade mark-ups across the distribution and supply chain, the policy aims to directly alleviate the heavy financial strain borne by cancer patients and their families.

Official estimates indicate that this intervention could drive down t...