Budget 2024: Cuts in Duties for Cancer Medicines and X-Ray Equipments
# Customs Duties on Cancer Medicines and X-Ray Equipment Reduced in Union Budget
New Delhi: In a move aimed at reducing the cost of cancer treatment, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the removal of customs duties on three essential cancer medicines in the Union Budget presented on Tuesday.
The medicines—Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab—will now be imported duty-free, as opposed to the previous 10% duty.
Additionally, Sitharaman disclosed a reduction in customs duties on X-ray tubes used in medical imaging. The duty on X-ray tubes, which are integral to medical, surgical, dental, and veterinary X-ray machines, will decrease from 15% to 5% until March 31, 2025. Following this period, the duty will rise to 7.5% from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, and return to 10% from April 1, 2026.
The Finance Minister also proposed adjustments to the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors to align with domestic production capacities under the Phased Manufacturing Programme.
Among the exempted medicines, Trastuzumab Deruxtecan is used for treating breast cancer as well as gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. The Fam-Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (Enhertu) injection, manufactured by AstraZeneca, is priced at Rs 3,00,000 per 100 mg vial.
These measures are expected to make critical cancer treatments more affordable and enhance the accessibility of diagnostic equipment.
