Patna: The announcement in Union Budget regarding the exemption of three cancer drugs from customs duty was widely welcomed, especially by the medical fraternity, which said the decision would alleviate financial burdens on cancer patients and their families.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Budget on Tuesday, announced that the cancer drugs Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab will be completely exempt from custom duty.Welcoming this decision, doctors said it would provide relief to cancer patients and their families.
Dr Ravikant, medical incharge of Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, said, “Trastuzumab Deruxtecan is used in breast cancer treatment and exempting it from custom duty will be a relief for women battling breast cancer.”
Providing a rough cost of these drugs, Dr Ravikant said, “Durvalumab costs Rs 4.27 lakh and is administered every three weeks with the number of doses depending on the patient’s condition. Osimertinib costs Rs 2 lakh per month and Trastuzumab Deruxtecan comes at about Rs 9 lakh per dose, administered every three weeks.”
Dr L B Singh, medical superintendent at Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, said middle-class families who are unable to avail govt health schemes for treatment would be benefitted.
Former state IMA president Dr Ajay Kumar also applauded the govt’s decision to exempt these three cancer drugs.

We also published the following articles recently