The Delhi High Court granted an interim remedy on Thursday, allowing duty-free import of the medicine Amphotericin-B, which is used to treat mucormycosis (also known as black fungus disease) patients, especially those suffering after recovering from Covid-19. The court ruled that duty-free imports can take place after importers post a bond until the Centre makes a final judgement on waiving the customs charge.
According to the high court, the treatment is needed to save the lives of thousands of individuals suffering from mucormycosis, and the federal government should seriously consider waiving customs tax till the drug is in short supply in India.
“We direct that if any person imports anything, the same may be cleared by accepting the bond from the importer without actual payment of duty until a final judgement on the stated aspect is reached,” the bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh stated in their judgement.
“The bond should contain a promise that, if the import charge is not waived, the importer must pay the payment,” the decree added.
The judges further stated that they had been informed that all consignments of black fungus medication would be cleared without delay by customs.
During the hearing, senior counsel Krishnan Venugopal, who represented one of the petitioners, stated that there were seven manufacturers at the time and that five more had been added. He went on to say that the government has requested additional firms, and if they are interested, they may apply, and the subject would be examined as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently directed that Amphotericin be obtained from anyplace in the globe by India missions across the world. Following the Prime Minister’s orders, the missions have been combing the country for supplies.
Meanwhile, Gilead Sciences, an American biopharmaceutical company, said on Wednesday that it is seeking to increase the supply of Liposomal Amphotericin B injections (AmBisome) to India. The business stated that it will provide 1 million doses of AmBisome.
