Govt restores customs duty exemption on three drugs

Within days of withdrawing customs duty exemption on a host of life-saving drugs, the government on Wednesday restored exemption on three of those drugs that are mainly used for the treatment of hormonal disorders, growth failure and haemophilia.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in a notification restored import duty exemption on three drugs –Octreotide, Somatropin and Anti- Haemophilic Factor Concentrate (VIII and IX).

The drug Octreotide is used to treat hormonal disorder, besides symptoms of severe diarrhoea and flushing caused by cancer. Somatropin is used to treat growth failure in children and adults, who lack natural growth hormone. It is also used to treat chronic kidney failure. Anti- Haemophilic Factor Concentrate (VIII and IX) is a genetic bleeding disorder involving a lack of functional clotting of blood.

Earlier, the government had withdrawn customs duty exemption on 74 drugs, including those used for curing cancer and HIV. The move was criticised as it would lead to a rise in prices of essential medicines. The government had defended it, saying that drugs removed from exemption list were capable of being produced in India and such a move would promote domestic manufacturing.