New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- Rendering relief for cancer patients, 17 life-saving drugs have been fully exempted from basic customs duty, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Sunday. Additionally, seven more medicines will be brought under customs duty relief, the Finance Minister said.

The move seeks to lower the cost of critical cancer treatments and expand access to vital medicines, especially for patients who rely on imported drugs for advanced and complex cancers.

"To provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, I propose to exempt basic customs duty on 17 drugs or medicines. I propose also to add 7 more rare diseases for the purposes of exempting import duties on personal import of drugs, medicin...