States »SoutPosted at: Jul 13 2021 5:20PM

TN BJP Chief urges Nirmala to waive duties for SMA treatment of 23-month-girl child

Chennai, July 13 (UNI) BJP Tamil Nadu Unit President K Annamalai
today urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman to waive of
duties, GST for importing life saving drug on humanitarian grounds
to treat a 23-month-old girl child suffering from Spinal Muscular
Atropy (SMA).
In a letter to Ms Nirmala, he said the girl child, K S Mithra, is suffering
from SMA, a genetic disorder since birth and doctors recommended
the drug Zolgensma, which needs to be imported.
''The cost of the drug itself is about Rs 16 crore and duties, GST comes
to around Rs six crore", he said.
Stating that the Girl's father, who hails from a middle class family, has
almost raised the full amount for the drug with the help of kind hearted
donors, Mr Annamalai said the drug has to be given before two years
of age and the girl child has recently crossed that deadline.
''I request your esteemed self to consider his prayer on humanitarian
grounds and on urgent basis and to waive off the duties, GST, other
taxes, etc., so that the girl child could be saved in time", he said.
UNI GV 1719