Govt Proposes Tax Exemption on Medicines for All 63 Rare Diseases Following MP Rawat’s Appeal
Health Ministry urges Finance Ministry to expand BCD and IGST relief list; Move to benefit thousands across India
Udaipur – In a significant move that could bring financial relief to patients suffering from rare diseases, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has requested the Ministry of Finance to revise its list of tax-exempt rare diseases. The revised list aims to include all 63 officially recognized rare diseases under the full exemption from Basic Customs Duty (BCD) and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST).
This development follows a formal appeal made by Member of Parliament Dr. Mannalal Rawat, who had written to Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, highlighting the challenges faced by families importing essential medicines for rare diseases.
Dr. Rawat’s intervention was prompted by the case of a three-year-old girl, Vamika Kalal, from Kherwara, who suffers from cystinosis—a serious kidney-related rare disease. As the specific medication for her condition is not available in India, it must be imported from France. Due to import duties and taxes, the annual cost of this medicine exceeds ₹3 lakh.
Dr. Rawat had requested that medicines required for such life-threatening and rare conditions be either made available free of cost or at subsidized rates, considering the financial burden on affected families.
In response, Union Health Minister Nadda informed Dr. Rawat that, as per notifications dated March 29, 2023, and July 26, 2023, the Department of Revenue under the Finance Ministry has already granted full exemption from BCD and IGST for medicines imported for the treatment of 51 rare diseases. Now, the Health Ministry has formally written to the Finance Ministry requesting an update to this list to cover all 63 identified rare diseases.
Once implemented, this move is expected to benefit thousands of patients across the country who rely on imported medication for treatment.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
