Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya said that the government had issued notifications to make the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on these three drugs/formulations zero, besides reducing the GST rate on these anti-cancer drugs to 12 The percentage was reduced to 5%. Patel told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
He said that in compliance with the notification, the manufacturers reduced the MRP on these drugs and filed the information with the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). The NPPA had issued a memorandum, directing the companies to reduce the MRP on these medicines due to reduction in GST rates and exemption from customs duty, so as to reduce the cost to consumers. Taxes and duties can be availed and information about changes can be provided. in prices.
For example, AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd has reduced the MRP per vial on several formulations. “As notified by the Company vide letter dated 19.11.2024, the downward revision of BCD being nil will be applied when the stocks benefiting from BCD relief are released for commercial sale in the market. Ga,” according to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
In the Union Budget, the government has exempted three cancer drugs from customs duty to ease financial burden and ease access for people suffering from cancer. The government also reduced the GST rate on these three cancer drugs from 12% to 5%. While Trastuzumab Deruxtecan is used for breast cancer, Osimertinib is for lung cancer. And Durvalumab is for both lung cancer and biliary tract cancer.
Cancer cases are increasing significantly in India. According to a recent Lancet study, India recorded nearly 1.2 million new cancer cases and 9.3 million deaths in 2019 – the second-highest contributor to the disease burden in Asia.