KOZHIKODE: Central government has waived the payment of duty for the import of Zolgensma drug for the treatment of one-and-a-half year old Mohammed from Mattool in Kannur who is suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The finance ministry, on Tuesday, issued orders exempting payment of integrated tax after considering the petition by Rafeeq, the father of the child.
He had sought exemption for the gene therapy medicine stating that the amount needed for the medicine ($2.1 million) was raised through crowdfunding and that they have obtained approval from DCGI for importing the lifesaving medicine from USA.
As per the letter, the drug is expected to be imported as a single packet with 74.2ml dose of medicine. “In view of the exceptional circumstances, Central government in exercise of the powers conferred by sub section (2) of Section 25 of the Customs Act, 1962, hereby exempts 74.3ml of Zolgensma from the whole of the integrated tax leviable thereon under sub section (7) of section 3 of Customs Tariff Act 1975,” stated the letter issued by the undersecretary in the finance department.
The letter to chief commissioner of customs, central goods and service tax, Thiruvananthapuram Zone, states that the exemption will be valid for imports to be made up to 02/11/2021. It adds that the said drug is already exempt from payment of BCD (basic customs duty).
The family had hoped to collect Rs 18 crore through crowdfunding for the gene therapy treatment of Mohammed; but Rs 46.7 crore was contributed by the people. The committee formed to raise funds for Mohammed’s treatment as well as his family intends to hand over the excess amount to the treatment of other SMA-affected children.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to waive off the customs duty and IGST on the drugs imported for spinal muscular atrophy.
