Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed exempting basic customs duty on 17 critical drugs and medicines, targeting cancer patients to reduce life-saving treatment costs during her Union Budget 2026 presentation.
Expanded Rare Disease Coverage
Seven additional rare diseases gain import duty exemptions for personal imports of specialized drugs, medicines, and therapeutic foods. This brings more patients under affordable access, easing the financial burden on families managing complex, low-prevalence conditions.
Patient Relief Priority
These exemptions lower out-of-pocket expenses for high-cost imported therapies, complementing the Biopharma Shakti Mission’s domestic production push. The measures ensure timely access to cutting-edge treatments while building long-term affordability through localized manufacturing capabilities.
Immediate relief for cancer and rare disease patients underscores healthcare accessibility as a fiscal priority within the ₹53.5 lakh crore budget framework.
