New Delhi : MP V. Sivadasan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging for tax exemption on a Rs 18 crore durg being imported to treat a rare condition in a toddler from Kannur. The letter also urges for speeding up procedures to have the drug imported at an early time.
The village of Matool in Kannur is rallying behind one-and-half-year old Muhammad who is down rare spinal muscular atrophy(SMA) disease - a condition that steadily debilitates the central nervous system. A charity campaign led by Kalyassery MLA Vijayan, Matool Panchayat office bearers and volunteers collected the Rs 18 core required for Zolgensma – a prescription gene therapy drug for the condition. It is the world’s highest-priced medication.
The Kerala government and hospital is mobilising all things possible to have the injection administered at an early time and arrest the disease. Levies, tax and GST toward the import will roughly amount to Rs 6.5 crore. It is this margin that’s requested for to be exempted.
In February of 2020. the centre had sanctioned a tax-waiver on Zolgensma imported for a child, Teera who was affected by SMA. In the letter, MP Sivadasan urges PM to allow similar exemption for the cause of Muhammad too. The letter further expressed hope for favourable consideration.
