New Delhi, December 8 (IANS). Giving relief to patients suffering from serious diseases like cancer, the government had reduced taxes and duties on three major anti-cancer drugs including Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, after which their prices have come down. People are very happy about this.
The government, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha last week, had informed about the reduction in the prices of cancer drugs like Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, Durvalumab.
The government had abolished import duty on the three medicines on July 23 this year. After this, on October 8, the GST rate on these was reduced from 12 percent to five percent. After these cuts, pharmaceutical companies have reduced their marked prices.
IANS spoke to people on this issue. One person said, “This is very admirable.” Customers will benefit greatly from this. Cheap medicines will put a burden on their pockets. The government has taken this step in the right direction. This step of his will be of great help to the public.
Another person said, “This is great news, because the complete cancer treatment and its medicines are very expensive, and it becomes difficult for middle class people to buy it.” “Reducing the import duty on them is a welcome step, and it should be reduced further.”
The price of these medicines still runs into thousands and lakhs. On this he said, “These expensive medicines were beyond the reach of the common man.” Now think that if a medicine costs Rs 1000, it will not immediately become worth Rs 100. If custom duty, GST and other measures are gradually reduced, medicines can be available at cheaper rates. If it can be possible, it must be done.”
The drugs whose prices have been reduced are used in the treatment of breast cancer, lung cancer and other types of cancer.
–IANS
MKS/AKJ
