India, Oct. 19 -- From November 9, the government will use an emergency power to cap what distributors, chemists and hospitals can add to the price of 137 cancer drugs that have no price ceiling, though the cap leaves the price manufacturers charge untouched.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), the regulator that sets and monitors drug prices, capped the trade margin on these drugs at 30% of the maximum retail price (MRP), excluding goods and services tax (GST), on October 17. The trade margin is the share taken by everyone between the manufacturer and the patient. NPPA expects MRPs to fall by up to 70%, depending on each drug's current margin. Aishwarya Bhati, an additional solicitor general representing the government...