Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 2024-25 in Indian Parliament on Tuesday, announced that three cancer treatment medicines will be exempted from basic customs duty.
Health experts from India and UAE hailed the India’s Central government’s move to exempt customs duty on three more cancer drugs.
The three drugs are Trastuzumab deruxtecan (for breast cancer), Osimertinib (lung cancer drug for EGFR mutation), and Durvalumab (for lung and biliary tract cancers). Deruxtecan drug can be used in all cancers with Her2 positive gene.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen, founder president, Thumbay Group
welcomed this move and said, ” I welcome the progressive measures introduced in the Indian Budget 2024 that aim to strengthen the country’s healthcare system. The government’s holistic determination to enhancing public health outcomes is demonstrated by its plans to upgrade already-existing hospital facilities, expand medical colleges, and introduce essential health initiatives like integrating mother and child care and introducing HPV vaccination for the prevention of cervical cancer. I am glad about the strategic creation of a dedicated committee to address these issues and the expansion of the U-WIN platform to intensify immunisation efforts. These forward-thinking steps not only bolster our healthcare systems but also align with our shared vision for capacity building and disease elimination. As an Indian businessman operating medical university and healthcare services in the UAE, I am enthusiastic about supporting these initiatives and collaborating towards the collective goal of health for all.”
Jyotsna Govil, Chairperson of the Indian Cancer Society said that the exemption has “given a relief to the countless cancer patients” in the country.
“The exemption of customs duty on three cancer medicines is a significant step forward. Also, the initiative and public investment in digital infrastructure and innovations will vastly improve access to essential health services for people in Tier II and III and rural areas,” Govil said.
According to Dr Shyam Aggarwal, Chairman, Department of Medical Oncology, at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital: “All imported life-saving drugs are costly and customs duty exemption is a welcome step”.
“Cancer drugs are very expensive and life-saving. Patients require long-term treatment. All steps to bring the cost down are more than welcome,” he added.
In her seventh budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday also called for exemptions in custom duties on X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors.
“I also propose changes in the BCD (Basic Customs Duty), X-ray tubes, and flat panel detectors for use in medical X-ray machines under the phased manufacturing programme to synchronise them with domestic capacity addition,” said FM Sitharaman.
“Exemption of three life-saving medicines for cancer treatment is a welcome step. Exemption of customs duty on components of X-ray tubes and digital detectors will lead to spurring of indigenous manufacturing of digital X-ray machines in India,” Dr Harsh Mahajan, Founder & Chairman, Chairman FICCI Health Services and Mahajan Imaging & Labs.
“Allocation of funds for innovation and skilling will also help those who are working in the healthcare sector,” he added.
–With inputs from IANS
