New Delhi, Aug 25
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s decision to slash GST on several cancer-related and other essential medicines is a “commendable step”, said the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday.
In a statement, the IMA noted that the move will make healthcare more affordable and accessible for millions of patients across the country.
“The reduction in GST on critical drugs reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening public health infrastructure and supporting those battling serious medical conditions such as cancer, chronic diseases, and life-threatening infections,” the IMA said.
The statement comes as the government is working to reduce GST on a range of essential and life-saving medicines as part of its broader tax reforms.
For cancer drugs and other critical treatments, the proposed changes include lowering GST rates from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, and in some cases bringing them down to nil.