<p>New Delhi: Finance Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/nirmala-sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</a> on Saturday proposed to fully exempt <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/custom-duty">customs duty</a> on 36 drugs used in the treatment of cancer, rare diseases and other severe chronic diseases.</p><p>The government had earlier cut customs duties on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab from 10 per cent to nil.</p><p>"To provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, rare diseases and other severe chronic diseases, I propose to add 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines to the list of medicines fully exempted from Basic Customs Duty (BCD)," Sitharaman said while presenting 8th consecutive <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/union-budget-2025?utm_source=UB2025-L1menu&utm_medium=UB2025-L1menu&utm_campaign=UB2025-L1menu">Budget</a>.</p><p>She also proposed to add six life-saving medicines to the list attracting concessional customs duty of 5 per cent.</p>.Union Budget 2025 | Big relief for middle class: no tax on income upto Rs 12 lakh; basic exemption hiked to Rs 4 lakh.<p>"Full exemption and concessional duty will also respectively apply on the bulk drugs for the manufacture of the above," Sitharaman stated.</p><p>She noted that specified drugs and medicines under Patient Assistance Programmes run by pharmaceutical companies are fully exempt from BCD, provided the medicines are supplied free of cost to patients.</p><p>"I propose to add 37 more medicines along with 13 new patient assistance programmes," Sitharaman said.</p>.<p><em><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/union-budget-2025">Union Budget 2025</a> | Nirmala Sitharaman, as Finance Minister, presented her record 8th <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/union-budget-2025">Union Budget</a> this time. While inflation has burnt a hole in the pockets of 'aam janata', the Modi govt gave <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/union-budget/union-3-3383957">income tax relief</a> for those making up to Rs 12 lakh per year in salaried income. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analysis only on <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/">Deccan Herald</a>. Also follow us on <a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va4ifN6AYlULZASc7V3S">WhatsApp</a>, <a href="https://in.linkedin.com/company/deccanherald">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://x.com/DeccanHerald?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">X</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deccanherald">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/deccanads">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deccanherald/?hl=en">Instagram</a>.</em></p>
<p>New Delhi: Finance Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/nirmala-sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</a> on Saturday proposed to fully exempt <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/custom-duty">customs duty</a> on 36 drugs used in the treatment of cancer, rare diseases and other severe chronic diseases.</p><p>The government had earlier cut customs duties on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab from 10 per cent to nil.</p><p>"To provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, rare diseases and other severe chronic diseases, I propose to add 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines to the list of medicines fully exempted from Basic Customs Duty (BCD)," Sitharaman said while presenting 8th consecutive <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/union-budget-2025?utm_source=UB2025-L1menu&utm_medium=UB2025-L1menu&utm_campaign=UB2025-L1menu">Budget</a>.</p><p>She also proposed to add six life-saving medicines to the list attracting concessional customs duty of 5 per cent.</p>.Union Budget 2025 | Big relief for middle class: no tax on income upto Rs 12 lakh; basic exemption hiked to Rs 4 lakh.<p>"Full exemption and concessional duty will also respectively apply on the bulk drugs for the manufacture of the above," Sitharaman stated.</p><p>She noted that specified drugs and medicines under Patient Assistance Programmes run by pharmaceutical companies are fully exempt from BCD, provided the medicines are supplied free of cost to patients.</p><p>"I propose to add 37 more medicines along with 13 new patient assistance programmes," Sitharaman said.</p>.<p><em><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/union-budget-2025">Union Budget 2025</a> | Nirmala Sitharaman, as Finance Minister, presented her record 8th <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/union-budget-2025">Union Budget</a> this time. While inflation has burnt a hole in the pockets of 'aam janata', the Modi govt gave <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/union-budget/union-3-3383957">income tax relief</a> for those making up to Rs 12 lakh per year in salaried income. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analysis only on <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/">Deccan Herald</a>. Also follow us on <a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va4ifN6AYlULZASc7V3S">WhatsApp</a>, <a href="https://in.linkedin.com/company/deccanherald">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://x.com/DeccanHerald?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">X</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deccanherald">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/deccanads">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deccanherald/?hl=en">Instagram</a>.</em></p>