CPI(M) today asked the Centre to reconsider its decision to remove over 70 drugs including life-saving ones used for treating cancer and HIV from customs duty exemption list, saying the move will make these more expensive resulting in "severe" hardships for patients.
"The CPI(M) politburo expresses its deep concern that the life-saving drugs have been taken off the customs duty exemption list. This gazette notification by the government has made these drugs more expensive.
"The CPI(M) demands the government should reconsider this decision," the party said in a statement.
The Left party said the decision will trigger a rise of "at least 22 per cent" in the prices of imported drugs, leading to "severe" economic hardships in case of medicines which have no domestic alternatives.
The government had last month withdrawn customs duty exemptions on 74 drugs, including life saving ones used for treating cancer and HIV.
But within few days, in the face of criticism from various quarters, it had restored exemption on three of the 74 drugs that are mainly used for treatment of hormonal disorders, growth failure and haemophilia.
The government though had defended the move saying the drugs removed from the list can be produced in India and such a move would promote domestic manufacturing in line with its 'Make in India' initiative.
