New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) – The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday hailed the GST Council’s move to lower taxes on cancer-related and other essential medicines, calling it a “commendable step” towards making treatment more affordable and accessible for millions of patients nationwide.
According to the IMA, the decision underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening public health infrastructure and easing the financial burden on people battling serious conditions such as cancer, chronic illnesses, and life-threatening infections.
The tax reforms under discussion aim to reduce GST on a wide range of essential and life-saving drugs. For cancer medicines and other critical therapies, GST rates may fall from 12% to 5%, and in some cases, be cut to zero. Drugs for the treatment of rare diseases are also being considered for exemption.
The IMA noted that such measures will help make high-cost treatments more affordable and widely accessible. At the same time, it urged the government and the GST Council to go further by completely exempting GST on all life-saving and essential drugs, including:
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Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy medicines
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Insulin and oral anti-diabetic agents
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Antihypertensive and cardiac drugs
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Medicines for chronic kidney disease, collagen vascular diseases, thyroid disorders, asthma, COPD, osteoporosis, and severe infections
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Intravenous immunoglobulin and drugs for blood disorders like haemophilia and myelodysplastic syndromes
The association also pressed for a reduction in GST on medical equipment, saying it would substantially reduce hospital operational costs and make treatments more affordable.
Additionally, the IMA recommended:
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Zero GST on hospital beds to lower hospitalisation expenses
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GST exemption on health insurance premiums, which would ease financial strain on families and encourage wider insurance adoption
“These steps would further enhance healthcare affordability and accessibility while protecting patients from catastrophic medical expenses,” the IMA said in its statement.