Cancer Drug Price Cap May Deter New Launches, Says HCG CMD

Ajai Kumar, CMD of HCG Group of Hospitals, said the government's move to cap trade margins on cancer drugs could discourage manufacturers from launching new therapies in India, warning that the long-term consequences may be more significant than the immediate impact. While stressing that patient interests remain paramount, he said the intervention could affect innovation and the entry of newer cancer treatments, even as legal experts noted the measure aims to curb excessive trading margins and improve patient affordability.