• Source:JND

Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the Union Budget 2026 in Lok Sabha. She stated that the centre has decided to exempt basic customs duty on 17 drugs. The finance minister asserted that the move will provide relief to thousands of patients, especially those suffering from cancer. She further stated that the centre will also add seven more rare diseases to the list to benefit the patients. Sitharaman asserted that the reduced cost of the drugs will make the treatment more accessible and budget-friendly.

The finance minister stated that the decision will provide relief to the passengers suffering from the rare diseases. "To provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, I propose to exempt basic customs duty on 17 drugs or medicines. I propose also to add 7 more rare diseases for the purposes of exempting import duties on personal imports of drugs, medicines, and food for special medical purposes used in their treatment," Sitharaman asserted.

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List of cancer drugs exempted in budget:

-Ribociclib

-Abemaciclib

-Talycabtagene autoleucel

-Tremelimumab

-Venetoclax

-Ceritinib

-Brigatinib

-Darolutamide

-Toripalimab

-Serplulimab

-Tislelizumab

-Inotuzumab ozogamicin

-Ponatinib

-Ibrutinib

-Dabrafenib

-Trametinib

-Ipilimumab

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While the cost of cancer treatment still remains high, the decision to exempt basic customs duty on 17 drugs will reduce the overall cost of the treatment. Apart from this, the centre will also work on upgrading the National Mental Health Institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur. "This decision was driven by the shortage of dedicated mental"‘health facilities across North India," the finance minister stated.

Apart from this, she also proposed to strengthen and increase capacities by 50 per cent in district hospitals by establishing emergency and trauma care centres. Sitharaman stated that the residents will not have to travel a long distance for treatment after the formation of such regional centres.


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