Government's Custom Duty Exemption on Cancer Drugs Welcomed, But Critical Demands Unmet

Health experts praise the government's move to exempt three cancer drugs from Customs duty, easing financial burdens. However, concerns persist over unaddressed demands such as increasing healthcare spending to 2.5% GDP. Experts also call for enhanced healthcare infrastructure, innovation, and support for digital health technologies.

On Tuesday, health experts commended the central government's decision to exempt three additional cancer drugs from Customs duty. This move, they say, will significantly ease the financial burden associated with cancer treatments.

The newly exempted drugs—Trastuzumab deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab—target specific forms of breast, lung, and biliary tract cancers. Dr. Ashutosh Raghuvanshi of Fortis Healthcare applauded the initiative, noting that it represents concrete progress in making cancer treatment more affordable.

Despite these positive changes, long-standing demands such as allocating 2.5% of GDP to healthcare remain unaddressed. Industry leaders emphasize that further budget allocations for infrastructure, digital health technologies, and innovation are essential for driving efficiency and addressing healthcare disparities.