Budget 2025: Life-saving Medications for Cancer and Chronic Conditions Made More Affordable, Check Full List

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday presented the Union Budget for 2025-26, which included a major initiative aimed at strengthening the healthcare sector.

As part of the budget, life-saving drugs and medicines will be fully exempt from Basic Customs Duty. Additionally, 37 more medicines and 13 new patient assistance programs will also be exempted from this duty, particularly when provided free of charge to patients.

However, 6 critical medicines will be subject to a concessional 5% customs duty.

"To provide relief to patients, especially those suffering from cancer and rare diseases, I propose that 36 life-saving drugs be fully exempt from customs duties," said Sitharaman during her presentation of the eighth consecutive Union Budget.

Further supporting the healthcare sector, the government has also reduced GST rates and exempted three anti-cancer drugs-Trastuzumab, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab-from customs duties in this budget.

India, the second-largest contributor to the cancer burden in Asia, saw around 12 lakh new cancer cases and 9.3 lakh deaths in 2019, according to a Lancet study. This number grew to 14.6 lakh by 2022.

In other significant healthcare developments, Sitharaman announced plans to establish daycare cancer centers in all district hospitals. "Next year, 10,000 additional seats will be added to medical colleges, with a goal of 75,000 seats in the next five years. About 200 daycare cancer centers will be established in 2025-26," she noted.

Furthermore, the government plans to provide broadband connectivity to all government secondary schools and primary healthcare centers. As part of the PM Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY), gig workers will also be provided access to healthcare facilities.