Union Budget: Health Experts Hailed The Centre’s Move To Exempt Customs Duty On Cancer Drugs

Oncologists on Tuesday hailed the central government’s move to exempt three more cancer drugs from customs duty. The three drugs are Trastuzumab deruxtecan (for breast cancer), Osimertinib (lung cancer drug for EGFR mutation), and Durvalumab (for lung and biliary tract cancers). The drug Deruxtecan can be used to treat all cancers with ‘Her2’ positive gene.

The chair person of the Indian cancer society Jyotsna Govil said that the waiver “has brought relief to countless cancer patients” in the country.

Jytosna Govil said “Exemption of customs duty on three cancer drugs is an important step forward. Also, 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.”

According to Dr Shyam Aggarwal, Chairman, Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital: “All imported life-saving drugs are expensive and exemption from customs duty is a welcome move. Cancer drugs are expensive and life-saving. Patients require long-term treatment. All measures to reduce cost are welcome.”

In her seventh budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday also sought exemptions in custom duties on X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors. “I also propose changes in BCD (Basic Customs Duty), X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors for use in medical X-ray machines to synchronize them with domestic capacity addition under the phased manufacturing programme,” said FM Sitharaman.

“Exemption of three life-saving drugs for cancer treatment is a welcome move. Exemption of customs duty on components of X-ray tubes and digital detectors will lead to domestic manufacturing of digital X-ray machines in India,” said Dr. Harsh Mahajan, Founder & Chairman, Chairman FICCI Health Services and Mahajan Imaging & laboratories.