Cancer patients in India have reasons to feel relieved after the presentation of the Union Budget 2024-25. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the drugs - Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab - are fully exempted from basic customs duty. Changes in the customs duty for X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors used in X-ray machines were also proposed in the budget.
Who uses these drugs? Trastuzumab Deruxtecan is used for the treatment of breast cancer, while Osimertinib is used for lung cancer treatment. An immunotherapy drug, Durvalumab is used in the treatment of bladder and lung cancers. The exact difference in their cost will depend on the present customs duty rates, taxes and logistics, though the exemption from customs duty can reduce the price by at least 20 per cent.
This can be a big relief to cancer patients as it can bring in a noticeable difference in their treatment expenses, according to experts. Other benefits The Union health ministry has been allocated Rs 90,958.63 crore in the budget, an increase of 12.
96 per cent over the Rs 80,517.62 crore 2023-24 revised estimates. The budget allocation for the AYUSH Ministry has been increased from Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 3,712.
49 crore. Out of the Rs 90,958.63 crore, Rs 87,656.
90 crore has been allocated to the Department of Health and Family Welfare and Rs 3,301.73 crore to the Department of Health Research. The budget allocation for schemes under the Department of Health and Family Welfare has be.