Budget 2025: Customs Duty Exemption for 36 Essential Medicines

The Indian government in the 2025 budget has decided to exempt or relieve customs duty on 36 life-saving drugs. It is a significant policy to improve access to essential medications for patients, particularly those with rare and life-threatening conditions. The 36 drugs listed are vital treatments for diseases such as cancer, genetic disorders, bleeding disorders, and autoimmune diseases.

Drugs Used in Treating Rare Condition

Several medicines, such as Onasemnogene abeparvovec (gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy) and Teclistamab (for multiple myeloma), represent the forefront of biotechnology in treating genetic disorders and cancers. Medicines like Velaglucerase Alpha and Imiglucerase are used for rare metabolic diseases, including Gaucher’s disease. Enzyme replacement therapy medicines replace enzymes that are deficient or absent in these patients.

Drugs such as Daratumumab, Atezolizumab, and Obinutuzumab are monoclonal antibodies used to treat cancers like multiple myeloma and various forms of lymphoma. They also play a role in autoimmune conditions. Some medicines in this list, like Emicizumab and Rurioctocog Alpha Pegol, are used for bleeding disorders like Hemophilia.

Drugs like Alirocumab and Evolocumab are used to treat high cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Effects of Exempting Medicines from Customs Duty

Implementing tax-free duty on these medicines is aimed at lowering the cost, as they are expensive medications. The affordability of these treatments can improve access for patients.

The exemption demonstrates a commitment to health priorities, particularly in improving access to advanced medical treatments for all. The reduction in import duty can facilitate the availability of newer therapies, ensuring that patients with life-threatening conditions can receive timely and affordable treatment.

This can result in a loss of revenue from customs duties, it is likely a calculated decision to balance long-term health benefits over short-term fiscal concerns.

Overview of 36 Life-Saving Drugs and Their Therapeutic Uses

Drug Name	Used to Treat
Gene Therapy and Enzyme Replacement Therapy Drugs
●Onasemnogene abeparvovec ●Risdiplam	Spinal muscular atrophy
●Velaglucerase Alpha ●Imiglucerase	Gaucher disease type 1 (affects liver, spleen, blood cells)
●Agalsidase Alfa ●Agalsidase Beta	Fabry disease
Idursulphatase	Hunter syndrome (MPS II)
Alglucosidase Alfa	Pompe disease
Laronidase	Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I)
Olipudase Alfa	Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (Niemann-Pick disease type A)
Miglustat	Gaucher disease and Niemann-Pick disease type C
Velmanase Alfa	Alpha-mannosidosis
Monoclonal Antibodies
Mepolizumab	Severe asthma and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
●Daratumumab ●Daratumumab subcutaneous ●Teclistamab	Multiple myeloma
Amivantamab	Non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations
Obinutuzumab	Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and follicular lymphoma
Polatuzumab vedotin	Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Spesolimab	Generalized pustular psoriasis
Emicizumab	prevent bleeding in patients with hemophilia A
Avelumab	Merkel cell carcinoma
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Asciminib	Chronic myeloid leukemia
Alectinib	Non-small cell lung cancer with ALK mutations
Entrectinib	Tumors with ROS1 or NTRK gene fusions
Tepotinib	Non-small cell lung cancer with MET exon 14 mutations
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Atezolizumab	Cancer immunotherapy
Inclisiran	Lower LDL cholesterol in patients with hyperlipidemia
Clotting Factors and Bleeding Disorder Treatments
Rurioctocog Alpha Pegol	Hemophilia A
Eptacog alfa activated recombinant coagulation factor VIIa	treat bleeding episodes in hemophilia A and B
CI-Inhibitor injection	Hereditary angioedema
PCSK9 Inhibitors
Alirocumab	Lower LDL cholesterol in patients with hyperlipidemia
Evolocumab	Treat high cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular events
Others
Cystamine Bitartrate	Cystinosis, a rare genetic disorder that affects kidney function
Belumosudil	Oral inhibitor used for chronic graft-versus-host disease

The exemption of these 36 life-saving medicines from customs duty by the Indian government, represents a substantial investment in public health, especially for those suffering from rare and chronic diseases. This highlights a broader effort to make life-saving treatments more accessible to underserved populations, supporting both economic health and the well-being of Indian citizens.

References:

1. - (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2098352)

Source-Medindia