Overview

• India’s GST Council has moved to reduce taxes on several cancer-related and other essential medicines, a step the Indian Medical Association described as patient-centric.
• IMA said the cuts would ease costs for families facing cancer, chronic kidney disease and serious infections, thanking the Council for the initiative.
• The association is pushing for complete GST exemption on lifesaving therapies including anti-cancer treatments, insulin and other antidiabetics, cardiac drugs, antihypertensives and medications for chronic respiratory and rare diseases.
• IMA also urged lower GST on medical equipment, removal of tax on hospital beds and exemption for health insurance premiums to reduce hospital operating expenses and patients’ out-of-pocket bills.
• The body flagged GST and TAN registration hurdles for its branches and noted that detailed rate decisions, including proposals to move some drugs from 12% to 5% or nil, are expected in upcoming Council deliberations.