If experts are to be believed, the proposed exemption of excise duty and reduction of customs duty in the forthcoming Union Budget may benefit only one or two per cent of the total cancer patients in India. 

Belying hopes of large number of cancer patients who are expecting a dramatic fall in the price of cancer drugs, the proposal relates to six specified life-saving drugs/vaccines used for palliative care of patients in advanced stage of cancer.  These drugs are used for prolonging the life of patients suffering from certain kidney and liver cancer who account for as low as one to two percent and not for curative treatment of cancer patients. 

Padamshree Dr B Paul, noted oncologist and Director, Regional Cancer Centre explains:  “We register 10,000 new cancer patients at Regional Cancer Centre
(RCC) at Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital (KNMH) from all the adjoining
states. Amongst them less than 2% are kidney and liver cancer
patients. Many of these patients are in disseminated stage of cancer
in which other treatment is not possible. Therefore, the drugs only
prolong their life. These are the same drugs for which the proposal
had been made to exempt them from excise duty besides concessional
customs duty of 5%.”  The Regional Cancer Center in Allahabad registers and monitors cancer cases in north India.

Dr Paul contends that the drugs to be exempted from the excise duty are not curative drugs but are meant for prolonging the life of kidney and
certain types of liver cancer patients.

“The majority of patients who turn up at RCC suffer from tobacco related cancer, breast and ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, lymphoma, leukemia etc. But there’s no relief for them in the new budget,” he added.

The cancer expert feels that the government should consider bringing
down the cost of drugs used in curable cancers like lymphoma,
leukemia, ovarian cancer, breast cancer etc. if it is serious about helping cancer patients.

 “Depending on the age and weight, if a child suffers from leukemia his parents may have to spend up to Rs 3 lakh for treatment which is a big amount,” points out Dr Paul.  If there is exemption of excise duty and reduction of customs duty on drugs used in such cases, it may benefit these patients.

In the light of this, the entire proposal seems to be an eye wash as the benefits of exemption in excise duty and customs duty may leave as many as 98% of the cancer patients in India untouched.