Good News for Cancer Patients in India | 17 Key Cancer Medicines to be Imported Tax-Free
The Union Budget 2026-27 has brought financial relief. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman announced that the government is going to remove basic tax on 17 cancer medicines, which are used to treat serious conditions like breast cancer and blood cancers. This major reform is part of the Budget 2026 plan to make treatment more affordable.
Most of these medicines are very expensive in India because they are imported from other countries. As the Taxes are going to be removed, the cost of the medicine is also expected to come down, making the medicines more affordable to the patients and fulfilling an important promise of Budget 2026.
What has the Government announced?
The Indian government has decided to remove the tax on 17 life-saving cancer drugs, which include many well-known medicines such as:
- Venetoclax (Used in Blood cancers)
- Abemaciclib and Ribociclib (Used in Breast Cancer)
- Trametinib and Dabrafenib (Used in certain types of advanced cancers)
- Ipilimumab and Tremelimumab (Used in Immunotherapy)
The list also includes India’s first homegrown CAR -T Cell therapy, which is used for treating blood cancer, known as NexCAR19, that is developed by Mumbai-based ImmunoAct.
This is also considered a big moment for indian biotechnology and cancer care, as CAR-T therapy is one of the most advanced forms of cancer treatment in the world.
Why does it matter?
Cancer treatment is not just emotionally and physically difficult; it also places a lot of financial burden on patients and their families. Many families struggle to afford the cancer medications, that costs lakhs of rupees per month. Even a small reduction in cost can make a difference for a patient. Clearly, Budget 2026 is designed to ease this financial burden.
The government is trying to reduce at least one part of the total price of these imported medicines by removing the taxes. This doesn’t make the drugs available in cheap price, but it can still help lower the burden on patients, hospitals, and insurance providers.
Along with cancer drugs, the government has also added seven rare diseases to the list of conditions that will get tax removed on imported medicines. These include rare genetic and immune disorders.
This is important as the treatments for rare diseases are not available in India and must be imported at a very high cost. Patients who are affected by such conditions face huge financial pressure, and this tax removal can provide some relief.
Will this really reduce the cost of treatment?
Removing the taxes is only one part of the total cost of these expensive therapies. The actual price of cancer medicines will depend on many factors, such as research costs, manufacturing, patents, hospital charges, and taxes.
So this step may not completely reduce the treatment cost overnight, but it is still a positive and meaningful step. Over time, such policy changes can help to build a more affordable and patient-friendly healthcare system.
A Step Towards Better Access to Cancer Care
This budget 2026 announcement shows how seriously cancer care is taken at the policy level. This makes the advanced treatment more accessible.
For the families fighting cancer, even a small financial relief can mean one more cycle of treatment, one more month of hope, and one more reason to keep going. Notably, Budget 2026 represents a step forward for healthcare in India. Furthermore, experts suggest that Budget 2026 will have ongoing effects on affordability and care.
