India has totally waived basic customs duty (BCD) on 36 life-saving medications used in the treatment of cancer, uncommon disorders, and chronic ailments in order to make these medications more reasonably priced.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated this during today’s presentation of the Union Budget 2025-26 before Parliament.
Apart from these 36 drugs, the government has agreed to exclude 13 other drugs and 37 more medications falling under the “Patient Assistance Programmes” from customs taxes – provided they are given to the patients free of cost.
For people with serious medical issues, this could lower the treatment cost and provide access to some vital medications.
The Healthcare Sector welcomes the Change
Approaching this project, CK Birla Hospitals CEO Vipul Jain said, “Saving livesaving drugs is very important, and six essential drugs have been brought under reduced customs duty at 5%, which he further said is quite a progressive initiative in improving access, affordability, and quality across India.”
This kind of strategy, one that emphasizes more on medical research, healthcare innovation, and a digital health transformation, offers as a start in the right direction to build health care infrastructure for India and so lower the patient’s cost burden.
