Medicines from multinational companies including Pembrolizumab (MSD Pharma), Lorlatinib (Pfizer), Ribociclib (Novartis), Selumetinib (Astra Zeneca), Teclistamab (Johnson & Johnson), Cetuximab (Merck Specialities), Brentuximab Vedotin (Takeda); Mepolizumab (GSK Pharma ), Risdiplam Powder (Roche), Luspatercept (Bristol Myers Squibb) are among the 37 listed to get Basic Customs Duty exemptions, provided they are given free.
“Specified drugs and medicines under Patient Assistance Programmes run by pharmaceutical companies are fully exempt from BCD, provided the medicines are supplied free of cost to patients. I propose to add 37 more medicines along with 13 new patient assistance programmes,” the Finance Minister said in Budget 2025.
In other patient-oriented support for those with cancer, rare diseases and other severe chronic diseases, the FM proposed to add 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines to the list of medicines fully exempted from Basic Customs Duty (BCD).
“I also propose to add 6 lifesaving medicines to the list attracting concessional customs duty of 5 percent,” she added. Full exemption and concessional duty is also being extended to bulk drugs for the manufacture of the above.
The budget also outlined daycare cancer centres in all district hospitals in the next three years. The FM said, “200 Centres will be established in 2025-26.”
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Also read: Budget 2025 Live Updates: No income tax payable up to income of ₹12 lakh; income tax slabs changed
