New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced exemption of three additional cancer medicines—Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab—from customs duty, while presenting the Union Budget for the current fiscal.
According to a statement issued by the government, the request was forwarded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to the Ministry of Finance in view of the 27 lakh cancer patients in the country.
“The Union Finance Minister also revised the custom duty rates on X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors. These revised rates are expected to positively impact the X-ray machine industry by enhancing component availability at lower costs. This change is anticipated to boost the domestic medical device sector, contribute to component availability at lower costs and reduced healthcare costs, making advanced medical imaging more accessible and affordable,” the statement read.
The allocation for FY 2024-25 under the National Health Mission (NHM) was also increased by about Rs 4000 crore from Rs 31,550 crore to Rs 36000 crore. The scheme primarily caters to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare service delivery in the country.
Know more about the cancer drugs which gets cheaper now
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is used to treat various types of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute of the United States, it is made up of the antibody trastuzumab and the topoisomerase I inhibitor deruxtecan. “The drug targets the protein HER2 on cancer cells, which can cause cells to grow and divide. Trastuzumab attaches to the HER2 receptor, stopping the cancer cells from growing, and then deruxtecan enters the cell and kills it,” the institute says. It was approved by FDA on August 5 to treat anyone with any advanced solid cancer if their tumors produce high levels of the protein HER2, or HER2-positive. According to reports, Fam-Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (Enhertu) injection, produced by AstraZeneca, is packaged in 1×1 vials of 100 mg and costs Rs 3,00,000 per piece.
Osimertinib: Experts said this drug was used to help prevent a certain type of non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from returning after the tumor(s) had been removed by surgery. It can also be used as a first treatment for a certain type of NSCLC that has spread to other parts of the body, according to Mediline Plus. It blocks the action of the abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. Osimertinib tablets, available in a packaging size of 80 mg, are priced at Rs 20,000 per bottle, claimed reports.
Durvalumab: This drug is used for treatment for different sizes of tumor, especially useful for treatment of Lung Cancer and Biliary Tract Cancer. It can also treat endometrial cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer), non-small cell lung cancer, and small cell lung cancer. Imfinzi (Durvalumab) anti-cancer injection, with a dosage of 500 mg, is packaged in vials and priced at Rs 1,90,000 per vial, reports claimed.
