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First Post
11-07-2025
- Health
- First Post
Major cancer drugs could become cheaper as India considers import duty waiver
The documents show that blockbuster cancer drugs like pembrolizumab (brand Keytruda), osimertinib (brand Tagrisso), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (brand Enhertu), used to treat lung and breast cancer, will be fully exempted from customs duty read more India will likely slash the prices of medicines used to treat critical conditions like HIV Aids and cancer as a government panel has recommended waiving off some customs duties on high-impact drugs. News18 has accessed a document of the proposed cuts in prices that are expected to provide relief to patients with cancer and other chronic diseases. The central government has constituted an interdepartmental committee that has suggested customs duty exemptions and concessions for high-impact medical imports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Established in August 2024 by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the panel is headed by Joint Drug Controller R. Chandrashekar and includes representatives from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Department of Pharmaceuticals, and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Its goal is to make life-saving treatments, such as those for cancer, rare diseases, organ transplants, and advanced diagnostics, much more affordable for Indian patients. More from Health US faces worst measles outbreak in decades amid falling vaccination rates under Trump Which drugs will get cheaper? The documents show that blockbuster cancer drugs like pembrolizumab (brand Keytruda), osimertinib (brand Tagrisso), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (brand Enhertu), used to treat lung and breast cancer, will be fully exempted from customs duty. These medicines often cost up to lakhs per dose and have remained inaccessible to patients due to the high import burden. Apart from cancer drugs, the committee has also proposed making several other medicines cheaper, including transplant drugs, critical care medicines, and advanced diagnostic kits that are slapped with heavy import duties and have no equivalent in the Indian market. A second category of essential but widely available drugs has been proposed for a reduced import duty of 5 per cent. This list includes hydroxyurea, used to treat cancer and sickle cell anaemia, and low molecular weight heparin, marketed as Enoxaparin, which is commonly used to prevent and treat blood clots and deep vein thrombosis. Therapies also included Along with life-saving drugs, the document also mentions price cuts for medical therapies to treat rare diseases. Customs duty exemptions might be applied on a group of therapies used to treat conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis, Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, lysosomal storage disorders, and hereditary enzyme deficiencies. Many of these therapies, such as gene-based and enzyme replacement treatments, rank among the most expensive drugs globally, with single courses costing several crores. Notable rare disease drugs on the list include Zolgensma, Spinraza, Evrysdi, Cerezyme, and Takhzyro. These medications are extremely costly and largely beyond the reach of most Indian patients. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
News18
11-07-2025
- Health
- News18
India May Relax Import Duty On 200 Drugs; Blockbuster Cancer Meds Keytruda, Enhertu On List
The list recommending customs duty of 5% includes 74 drugs, while another suggesting full exemption has 69 drugs. A separate list for rare disease drugs has 56 names for exemption India may soon see a drop in treatment costs for critical conditions, such as HIV, cancer, transplant medicine, and haematology, with a government panel recommending customs duty relaxation on around 200 high-impact medicines, News18 has learnt. In a move that could provide some relief to patients with cancer and other chronic diseases, an interdepartmental committee constituted by the central government has recommended a set of customs duty exemptions and concessions for high-impact medical imports. The report, accessed by News18, recommends full exemption of customs duty on several global blockbuster cancer drugs such as pembrolizumab (brand Keytruda), osimertinib (brand Tagrisso), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (brand Enhertu)—widely used in treating lung, breast, and other aggressive cancers. These medicines, often costing lakhs per dose, have long remained out of reach for many due to the high import burden. The panel, formed by the Drug Controller General of India in August 2024, is led by joint drug controller R Chandrashekar along with members from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Pharmaceuticals and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The panel aims to make life-saving therapies for cancer, rare diseases, transplants, and advanced diagnostics significantly more affordable for Indian patients. Beyond Oncology Apart from cancer medicines, the recommendations cover several other vital drugs, including transplant drugs, critical care medicines, and advanced diagnostic kits that rely on imported inputs or have no equivalent in the domestic market. A second category of drugs—essential but more broadly available—has been proposed for concessional duty at 5%. The list of drugs here includes hydroxyurea, which treats cancer as well as sickle cell anaemia. The other popular drug on this list is low molecular weight heparin, sold under the brand name Enoxaparin, which is used in the treatment and prevention of blood clots and deep vein thrombosis. The list recommending a customs duty of 5% includes 74 drugs, whereas the one suggesting full exemption has 69 drugs. A separate list for drugs to treat rare diseases has 56 names for customs duty exemption. A Lifeline for Rare Disease Patients A section of the report focuses on rare diseases, where treatment costs are often devastating for families. The panel has recommended customs duty exemptions on a group of therapies used to treat conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis, Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, lysosomal storage disorders, and hereditary enzyme deficiencies. Several of these therapies—including gene-based and enzyme replacement treatments—are among the most expensive drugs in the world, with single-course costs running into multiple crores. The blockbuster rare disease drugs in the list include Zolgensma, Spinraza, Evrysdi, Cerezyme, and Takhzyro. All these drugs are very expensive and, in the majority of cases, unaffordable for Indian patients. Moreover, the panel has recommended 'to constitute a permanent inter-departmental committee under DGHS to review such drugs and provide recommendations in this regard to the Department of Revenue", the report said. view comments First Published: July 11, 2025, 07:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
