In a historic decision, the Indian government declared that all medications and food imported for personal use in the treatment of all rare diseases are now completely exempt from basic customs charge.
This is for the illnesses identified under the National Strategy for Rare Diseases 2021 through a general exemption notification, claims the government.
“In order to avail this exemption, the individual importer has to produce a certificate from Central or State Director Health Services or District Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon of the district. Drugs/Medicines generally attract basic customs duty of 10%, while some categories of lifesaving drugs/vaccines attract concessional rate of 5% or Nil,” the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.
The government further stated that although certain pharmaceuticals needed to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy or Spinal Muscular Atrophy have previously received exemptions, the government has received several requests for customs tax reduction for drugs and treatments used to treat other rare diseases.
The pricey medications or specialised foods needed to treat these conditions must be imported. According to estimates, the annual cost of therapy for some uncommon disorders for a child weighing 10 kg can range from Rs 10,00,000 to £100,000, with treatment being lifelong and medicine dose and cost rising with age and weight.