Experts praised the GST Council’s Tuesday decision to lower the tax rates on vital cancer medications, stating that it is an important step that will increase patient access to the affordability of life-saving medications.
During its 54th meeting in New Delhi on Monday evening, the GST Council made the historic decision to lower the GST rate from 12 per cent to 5 per cent for essential cancer medications, such as Durvalumab, Osimertinib, and Trastuzumab. This move will have a profound impact on cancer patients throughout India.
As Dr. Pritam Kataria, Consultant in Medical Oncology at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, put it, “This move marks a crucial step in making life-saving treatments more affordable for patients battling cancer,” said IANS.
“This is a welcome move, as the incidence of cancers is on the rise and will further boost patients’ confidence in the treatment system,” the speaker continued.
The prolonged course of cancer treatment and the high cost of pharmaceuticals can make it costly, particularly when a medicine must be imported for purposes such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
“More Indian patients would be able to access standard care thanks to the GST cut. The patient’s result will improve with the new treatment, according to Kataria, since it will lessen the negative effects of the medication and increase responses.
Durvalumab is used for lung and biliary tract malignancies, Osimertinib is used for lung cancer medications for EGFR mutations, and trastuzumab deruxtecan is used for breast cancer. Any cancer with a Her2 positive gene can be treated with deruxtecan medication.
In the Union Budget 2024–2025, the government also waived customs duties on these three cancer medications.
“We applaud the GST Council’s decision to reduce the five percent GST on cancer medications. This is a step towards boosting access to life-saving medications and enhancing health outcomes, given the rising prevalence of chronic illnesses in India, stated Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
Dr. Ashish Gupta, a medical oncologist and chief of medical oncology at Unique Hospital Cancer Centre in New Delhi, told that “this much-needed GST cut can also improve access to advanced cancer treatments, reduce the financial burden on patients and their families, and potentially improve treatment outcomes by allowing more patients to benefit from these drugs.”
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