Covid-19: Govt waives import duty on Remdesivir injection, raw materials

Given the shortage of supplies, the Union government last week banned the export of Remdesivir

The government on Tuesday waived customs duty on a key coronavirus (Covid-19) drug Remdesivir and its raw materials to lower cost amid a sharp increase in demand in the country.

According to a notification from the customs department, the duty waiver was for Remdesivir injection, Remdesivir API and Beta Cyclodextrin, a key input, till October 31, 2021.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in a statement said, “In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priority to ensure affordable medical care for Covid-19 patients, imports of Remdesivir API, injection and specific inputs have been made import duty free. This should increase supply and