Medicines/medicines are generally subject to a basic customs duty of 10 percent, while some categories of life-saving medicines/vaccines are subject to a favorable rate of 5 percent or zero.
New Delhi: The government has exempted all medicines and food for special medical purposes imported for personal use for the treatment of rare diseases from the basic customs duty. The import duty exemption will take effect from April 1. In addition, the government has exempted pembrolizumab (Keytruda), used in the treatment of several types of cancer, from basic customs duties.
Medicines/medicines are generally subject to a basic customs duty of 10 percent, while some categories of life-saving medicines/vaccines are subject to a favorable rate of 5 percent or zero.
“The Central Government has granted a full exemption from the basic customs duty for all medicines and food for special medical purposes imported for personal use for the treatment of all rare diseases listed in the National Rare Disease Policy 2021,” a statement from the government said. Ministry of Finance.
Food for Special Medical Purposes is a food formulation intended to provide nutritional support to people suffering from a specific disease, disorder or medical condition, as part of their dietary management.
To make use of this exemption, the individual importer must present a certificate from the Director of Central or State Health Services or the District Medical Officer/District Civil Surgeon.
While exemptions have already been granted to specific drugs for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy or Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the government has received many representations seeking exemption from customs duties for drugs and medicines used in the treatment of other rare diseases. .
Medicines or special foods needed to treat these diseases are expensive and must be imported.
The ministry said that it is estimated that for a child weighing 10 kg, the annual cost of treating some rare diseases can range from Rs 10 lakh to more than Rs 1 crore per year, being the treatment for life and the dosage and the drug cost, increasing with age and weight
“This exemption will result in substantial cost savings and provide much-needed relief to patients,” the ministry said.
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