Budget 2025 impact on cancer drugs prices – DECODED

Probal Ghoshal, Chairman, Director & Co-founder, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, commended the government’s initiative to enhance cancer care access through daycare cancer centers in district hospitals, which will bring essential services closer to patients in underserved regions, ensuring earlier diagnosis and timely treatment. He said, “The exemption of customs duty on 36 life-saving drugs as a key step toward making cancer medications more affordable, alongside expanded patient assistance programs and reduced duties on bulk drugs, which will lower manufacturing costs and ease the financial burden on patients battling cancer and chronic conditions. With India’s rising cancer burden, Ghoshal praised the budget’s proactive approach to healthcare affordability and accessibility, particularly its focus on rural healthcare infrastructure and digital health services, like telemedicine, to reach remote areas. He also emphasized Ujala Cygnus’s commitment to strengthening cancer care in northern India by setting up oncology facilities in tier 2 cities and partnering with district hospitals. While recognizing the Centre’s budgetary efforts, he urged state governments to prioritize oncology services with dedicated funding and incentives, stressing that public-private partnerships will be crucial to efficiently scaling cancer care and realizing the government’s vision of a more inclusive healthcare ecosystem.”