To reduce the cost of cancer treatment, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman removed customs duties on three cancer drugs in the Union Budget, which was tabled Tuesday. The Union minister also reduced customs duties on X-ray tubes used in medical X-ray equipment.

The three drugs, Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab, were formerly subject to a 10% customs charge. These medications can now be imported without paying any duty. There was also a proposal to reduce customs charges on X-ray tubes used in the production of X-ray equipment for medical, surgical, dental, and veterinary applications.

"I also propose changes in the BCD (Basics Custom Duty) on X-ray tubes & flat panel detectors for use in medical X-ray machines under the Phased Manufacturing Program, so as to synchronise them with domestic capacity addition" according to Sitharaman.

The current 15% tariff will be decreased to 5% until March 31, 2025. The tariff will then increase to 7.5 percent from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, before returning to 10% on April 1, 2026.

Meanwhile, one of the three medications free from customs tax is Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, which is used to treat breast cancer, gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Fam-Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (Enhertu) injectable, manufactured by AstraZeneca, comes in 1x1vials of 100 mg and costs Rs 3,00,000 each piece.

Osimertinib is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in people who have specific faulty epidermal growth factor (EGFR) genes. Osimertinib pills come in an 80 mg packing size and cost Rs 20,000 each bottle.

Durvalumab is also used to treat individuals with specific forms of biliary system cancer (such as bile duct and gallbladder cancer), endometrial cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer), non-small cell lung cancer, and small cell lung cancer. Imfinzi (Durvalumab) anti-cancer injectable, with a 500 mg dose, is packed in vials and costs Rs 1,90,000 each.