India, Oct. 19 -- Healthcare provider stocks open the week on a cautious footing. Over the weekend, the drug pricing regulator NPPA issued an order limiting the trade margin on a set of non-scheduled cancer medicines to 30% of their MRP. The new prices apply from November 9, 2026, and cover branded products as well as costly molecules such as Bevacizumab. Since hospitals sell most of these drugs through their own pharmacies, brokerages see the sector bearing the cost rather than being able to pass it on. The stocks were already sliding, so the order lands on a weak base.

1. Apollo Hospitals

Apollo has lost 11.5% over the past month, a gentler fall than the other three. Nuvama pegs the hit to its revenue per occupied bed (ARPOB) at roug...