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Budget 2025 on healthcare policies: 36 life-saving drugs to be exempted from customs duty; key highlights

Budget 2025 on healthcare policies: 36 life-saving drugs to be exempted from customs duty; key highlights

TOI Business Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Feb 1, 2025, 13:19 IST

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Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Budget 2025, highlighting healthcare policies such as adding 10,000 seats in medical colleges and hospitals next year, with 75,000 total seats to be added over five years. Secondary schools and primary healthcare centers will get broadband. Medical tourism will be promoted through private sector collaborations.

Budget 2025 on healthcare policies: 36 life-saving drugs to be exempted from customs duty; key highlights

NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced the Budget 2025 with policies to ensure "comprehensive healthcare" for the nation.
She announced that the government intends to add 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines to the list of those fully exempt from Basic Customs Duty to aid patients battling cancer, rare diseases, and severe chronic illnesses.
The finance announced that next year, 10,000 seats would be added in medical colleges and hospitals. Further, 75,000 seats would be added in next 5 years.
"In the next year, 10,000 additional seats will be added in medical colleges and hospitals towards the goal of adding 75,000 seats in the next five years," she said.
Additionally, medical tourism in the country would be promoted in partnership with private sector.
Union Budget 2025 full coverage

Here are key highlights from the Union Budget 2025 in healthcare sector:

All government secondary schools and primary healthcare centers will be equipped with broadband connectivity
India will promote medical tourism through collaborations with the private sector
Next year, 10,000 new seats will be added to medical colleges and hospitals, with a total of 75,000 seats planned over the next five years
To support patients, especially those with cancer, rare diseases, and severe chronic illnesses, the government plans to add 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines to the list of those fully exempt from Basic Customs Duty (BCD)
The government plans to establish daycare cancer centers in all district hospitals within the next three years, with 200 centers set to be opened in 2025-26
The government has proposed adding six lifesaving medicines to the list eligible for a concessional 5% customs duty. Full exemption and concessional duty will also apply to bulk drugs used in their manufacturing
Under patient assistance programs by pharmaceutical companies, specified drugs and medicines supplied free of cost are fully exempt from Basic Customs Duty (BCD). The government now proposes to add 37 more medicines and include 13 new Patient Assistance Programs under this exemption

Union Budget: Income tax slabs 2025-26 full coverage

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