To reverse the effect of GST on life-saving essential medicines and to make them available to people at a lower cost said Praja Arogya Vedika (PAV), an affiliate of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, has pleaded before Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The GST on life-saving and essential drugs varies between 12% and 28%, PAV general secretary T. Kameshwar Rao and president M.V. Ramanaiah said in a letter to the Finance Minister. They praised the government of India’s recent decision to reduce the GST on electronic products including mobile phones, other electronic components, and some imported cancer treatments from 18% to 12%. Still, they claimed that only a small group of people could afford such costly medications.
They ask for reversing the GST on the essential medicines that would have been used through the more significant number of patients to diminish the load on the people. Healthcare costs consume a sizable chunk of every household’s income, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.
At present, the healthcare sector receives limited financial allocations, frequently dropping below 1% of the Gross Domestic Product(GDP). In this context, Mr Kameshwar Rao and Dr Ramanaiah requested the Finance Minister’s involvement to overturn the 12% GST charged on life-saving and vital pharmaceuticals.
On the additional health products, they ask for the GST abolition.
