Govt withdraws customs exemption on 74 drugs, prices to rise


New Delhi, Feb 6 (PTI): As many as 74 drugs, including life saving ones used for treating cancer and HIV, will see sharp rise in prices as the government has withdrawn customs duty exemption on their imports.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) last week issued a notification withdrawing exemption of levy of basic customs duty on as many as 74 drugs.

The medicines on which customs duty will now be imposed include the ones used for treating kidney stones, cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy, life-threatening heart rhythm disorders, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, bone diseases, antibiotic to treat infections.

Besides, drugs used for bacterial infections, leukemia, anesthetic medication, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus cells, allergies, arthritis, lupus and ulcerative colitis might also see spurt in prices.

Also drugs used in blood dilating medicine or for treating menopause, glaucoma, anogenital warts, poisoning by a chemical or pesticide, growth failure in children and adults who lack natural growth hormone would also attract customs duty.

"The withdrawal of exemption from basic customs duty for certain drugs and medicines including life-saving drugs is intended to provide protection to the domestic manufacturing industry and enhance the attractiveness of make in India initiative," KPMG India Partner and Head of Indirect Tax Sachin Menon said.

"An increase has also been made in the customs duty rates of certain life saving drugs such as abciximab, anti-rabies immunoglobin, FSH, procarbazine and saquinavir to 35 per cent," Deloitte in India Senior Director MS Mani said.

These changes signify the intention of the government to promote domestic manufacture of these items as imports would now become more expensive, Mani said.

Menon said the move seems to be in line with the government's objective to rationalise the duty exemptions.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Promenade Road,Frazer Town,B'lore

    Sun, Feb 07 2016

    Not good step from the government because additional burden on the sick.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • JSaheb,

    Sun, Feb 07 2016

    Irrespective of CONG or BJP Govt is run by corporate businessmen.. This is the fact...
    Only hope is Mr. Kejriwal Sir. Please support AAP. Support India. Jai hind

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence, USA

    Sun, Feb 07 2016

    Indians have highest number of diabetes in the world. Many poor cannot afford the insulin and increase in price of Lantus solo star insulin will be devastating not only for poor but also for middle class families. It costs Rs.800.00 per pen right now.

    Please please do not increase the life threatening drug prices. People will not live to see the so called "Achche Dhin"

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • John, Udupi

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Oh God! What they promised and what they are doing!?. Central government is completely sold out to MNC's!. Bakht's are now silent even they have read the news!. What's this bakhts!?. Blood sucking parasites lurking everywhere!

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • lukas, malpe

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    ache din has come but only one is pending from government should put tax on people over dead body also. shame on government worse then previous one who ruled 65 years.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Millions of poor Indian families affected by debilitating diseases have lost hope today after the government withdrew custom exemption on 74 drugs making them out of their reach. Many life saving drugs made in India and available in generic names are said to be substandard and many good hospitals do not recommend them. Some drugs are even found to be duplicate or placebo.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Evans Christopher Sumitra, UDUPI/NEW YORK,USA.

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    This is a big blow to the poor people who are badly in need of vital drugs for their daily needs. They will not afford to buy these medications when our own government withdraws customs duty. These patients will suffer and die. I hope the government will reconsider this issue.

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian D'souza, Udupi / Mumbai

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    PM Modi begun his life as a Tea Vendor.
    He was always propagating his early humble days wherever he went, has now completely forgotten the plight of poor,ever since he started enjoying the company of ultra rich!
    He thinks only for Industrialists, and business tycoons.
    It all begun with resisting the reduction of crude oil prices, Increase of Railway fare, Dal prices sky rocking and now life saving drugs!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Every one knows this is atrocious.
    Don't you guys have any guts to stand up against DAYLIGHT ROBBERY ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Clifford Fernandes, Toronto

    Sun, Feb 07 2016

    Final nail in the coffin of the poor.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vicky, Mangalore/dubai

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    All the govt & infra developments funds are collecting from the public one by one govt is removing the subsidies ....finally we are getting nothing...even no free Medical...lucky politicians they will get A to Z

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vicky, Mangalore/dubai

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    BPL card holders will only get subsidised gas cylinders in couple years.

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dev , Mangalore

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    The imported essential drugs have already have inflated prices & with local manufacturers if exist would charge now more & will keep it little less than imported drugs to make a windfall.
    Make Hay when Sun shines will be their motto.
    Alternative therapies or drugs will only help Indian patients to cure or prevent the above diseases.
    It is Time to Make In India focus on these alternative therapies with proven track record if the real intention is to safeguard peoples Health.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • tom Cat, Mangalore

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    I wish to see the faces of bakths suffering from various diseases due to pukat kana and peena. pseudos can afford. Jai Ho Modi.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pramod suvarna, Derebail mangaluru

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Congress is slow poison , BJP with modi is cyanide

    DisAgree Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Harish, kadaba

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    If its true I Hope whole opposition, media should fight to re take it. even though it wnt gave political milage like rohit vemala , dadri case, but worth !

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Bengaluru

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Why leave these things?
    Kaasu maadu party ki jai.....

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Where are all our Desh BHAKTS ...

    DisAgree Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • A. S. Mathew, U.S.A.

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    IT SEEMS LIKE SOME UNKNOWN PERSONS FROMT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN TO HEAVEN TO MAKE A SPECIAL EXPORT CONTRACT OF SOULS TO HEAVEN.

    THERE WAS AN OLD SONG " EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO HEAVEN BUT NOBODY WANTS TO DIE, LORD I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN BUT I DON'T WANT TO DIE".

    SO, THERE MIGHT BE A SHORTAGE OF SOULS IN HEAVEN, THE AACHE DIN GOVERNMENT SAW THE VAST MARKETING OPPORTUNITY IN HEAVEN AND MADE A CONTRACT TO SEND MORE SOULS TO HEAVEN THUS INDIA WILL BE BREAKING THE WORLD RECORD IN " SOUL'S EXPORTING", THUS THE GDP OF INDIA WILL BE RECORD BREAKING.

    THE OLD CHRISTIAN SONG ' HEAVEN CAME DOWN AND GLORY FILLED MY HEART...... WOULD BE REVISED IN HEAVEN " SOULS CAME FROM INDIA BY THOUSANDS AND HEAVEN IS REJOICING GREATLY". NOW AACHE DIN IS NOT ONLY IN INDIA, BUT IN HEAVEN TOO.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • A. S. Mathew, U.S.A.

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    HEALTHCARE BUDGET CUTTING OF 20% IN 2016 WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT 50% CURTAILING. NOW WITHDRAWING THE FREE DUTY STATUS OF THE HIGHLY NEEDED 74 DRUGS. THESE ARE SYSTEMATIC ERADICATION OF THE POOR PEOPLE'S POPULATION OF INDIA. AACHE DIN KI JAI:

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lester, Mangalore

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Looks like BJP is trying for an advanced version of "Garibi Hatao program" . This is called " garibon ko Hatao ". At the rate BJP is exploiting , there will be no poor people left before the end of their present tenure.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stan, Udupi/ Dubai

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Achhe din only for businessmen and politicians.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Hussain, Abudhabi

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Let the sick die and the rich become richie rich

    DisAgree Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Aman, Udupi

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Hoga Gareeb pe war..
    Ab ki ba modi sarkar..
    Now the Bhatks will come up with some illogical explanations to this..

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • shahnawaz kukkikatte, dubai/udupi

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Modi came to power to suck the blood of poor n patients..He is bent upon bleeding poor n injecting finance to corporates..is it the achhe din??

    DisAgree [2] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    Wah jee wah! 'Abolish wealth tax and increase 'Health tax'. Perfect recipe for Making the wealthy wealthier and garibon ko hatao.

    DisAgree Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Feb 06 2016

    I guess the latest slogan is LOOT INDIA ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [36] Reply Report Abuse


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