The Union Budget 2024-25, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has brought significant relief to cancer patients by proposing customs duty exemptions on three crucial cancer treatment drugs: Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab. This move is expected to reduce treatment costs by 10-20%, easing financial burdens and encouraging better outcomes.
Dr. Mandeep Singh Malhotra, Director of Surgical Oncology at CK Birla Hospital, stated, “Exemption from customs duty could significantly reduce the price of these medicines, making them more affordable for patients. This move will improve access to advanced cancer treatments and potentially enhance treatment outcomes.”
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan treats metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer and is being studied for other cancers. Osimertinib is used for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), effective against resistant cancers. Durvalumab, an immunotherapy drug, treats NSCLC and bladder cancer by blocking the PD-L1 protein.
Dr. Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, CEO of Fortis Healthcare Limited, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the financial relief for patients and families. He also noted the benefit to domestic manufacturers through proposed changes in Basic Customs Duty (BCD) for X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors.
However, experts like Dr. Raghuvanshi and Dr. Harsh Mahajan, Chairman of FICCI Health Services Committee, urge the government to address longstanding healthcare demands. These include increasing GDP spending on healthcare to 2.5%, prioritizing healthcare as a national issue, promoting medical value travel, and rationalizing GST.
According to a Lancet report, India registered 12 lakh new cancer cases and 9,30,000 deaths in 2019, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced healthcare measures.
