AAP MP Urges Government Action on High Costs of SMA Treatment and GST Burden
Sanjay Singh Calls for Affordable Medicines and Lower Tax Rates During Rajya Sabha Session
The Impressive TimesNew Delhi July 24 2024 : In a compelling plea during the Zero Hour session of the Rajya Sabha, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh called upon the government to urgently address the exorbitant costs and accessibility issues surrounding treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in India. Singh highlighted the plight of hundreds of children affected by SMA, stressing the prohibitive cost of SMA treatment injections, priced at a staggering Rs 17 crore, further burdened by high GST rates.
Singh emphasized the critical need for affordable medicines and reduced tax rates to alleviate the financial strain on affected families. “Hundreds of children are at risk of losing their lives due to the unavailability of medicines, high tax rates, and the exorbitant costs of drugs,” Singh lamented during his address.
Citing previous governmental actions, Singh referenced the waiver of certain duties on personally imported drugs and the launch of a Production Linked Incentive Scheme by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to boost local manufacturing, particularly for orphan drugs. He underscored the necessity for sustained efforts and immediate measures to alleviate the suffering of SMA patients and their families across the country.
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