In a decision that will benefit thousands of patients in the country who require some of the life-saving drugs which are not permitted to be imported or marketed in the country, the union health ministry has allowed to import such drugs in small quantities exclusively for the treatment of patients to save their lives.

In the medical practice, sometimes drugs which are not permitted to be imported or marketed in the country are required exclusively for the treatment of patients to save their lives. So the ministry has decided to allow to import such drugs in small quantities to save the lives of patients, a senior officials in the ministry said.

For importing such drugs, the patients who require them will have to obtain a permit from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

The applicant is required to make an application in Form 12A, along with the prescription of the Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) indicating the quantity of drug required for the treatment of the patient. The prescription should indicate registration number of RMP. The permission in Form 12B is issued on priority basis within one or two days. Further the rules also permit import of small quantities of drugs for exclusive personal use of the passenger as part of his bona-fide baggage. The quantities of any single drug so important shall not exceed 100 average doses and shall be declared to the customs authorities, if so directed, an order of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) said.

The Port offices of CDSCO from where permissions for import of small quantities of drugs for personal use could be obtained are situated at the Air ports of IGI Air Port, New Delhi, Air Cargo Complex, Chennai, International Air Cargo Complex, Mumbai, New Integrated Cargo Terminal Building, Kolkata, RGI Airport, Hyderabad, Airfreight Terminal, Bengaluru, Aircargo Complex, Ahmedabad and Port offices at Custom House, Chennai, New Custom House, Mumbai, Nava Sheva Port, Navi Mumbai, Custom House, Kolkata.