Starting from April 1, the Indian government has decided to waive basic customs duty on all food and drugs imported for personal use in the treatment of rare diseases. The move is expected to provide significant cost savings to patients, as drugs and special foods needed for the treatment of such diseases are often expensive and require importation.Furthermore, the Indian government has also announced that it will be waiving basic customs duty on Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), a medication utilized in the treatment of various types of cancer.
The Ministry estimates that treating some rare diseases for a 10 kg child can cost anywhere between Rs 10 lakh to over Rs 1 crore per year, with drug dose and cost increasing as the patient ages and gains weight. These high costs often make it challenging for patients to access the necessary treatments. By waiving the import duty, the government hopes to offer much-needed relief to affected individuals and families.
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