New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) – The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has praised the GST Council’s move to slash Goods and Services Tax (GST) on various cancer-related and other essential medicines, calling it a “commendable step” that will make treatment more affordable and accessible for millions across India.
In a statement on Monday, the IMA said the reduction reflects the government’s intent to bolster public health infrastructure and support patients battling critical illnesses like cancer, chronic ailments and severe infections.
The government’s broader tax reforms include lowering GST on several cancer drugs and critical therapies from 12% to 5%, with some possibly being reduced to zero. Medicines for rare diseases are also being considered for exemption. The aim is to ease the heavy financial burden placed on patients and their families due to high treatment costs.
While lauding the Council’s decision, the IMA urged for full GST exemption on lifesaving and essential drugs, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted cancer therapies, insulin and oral diabetes medicines. It further recommended exemptions for antihypertensives, cardiac medicines, drugs for chronic kidney disease, collagen vascular diseases, thyroid disorders, asthma, COPD, osteoporosis, serious infections, intravenous immunoglobulin and treatments for blood disorders such as haemophilia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
The IMA also sought GST cuts on medical equipment to lower operational costs for hospitals and clinics and make treatments more affordable. Additionally, it strongly advocated the complete removal of GST on hospital beds and sought GST exemption on health insurance premiums, stating that this would ease the financial burden on patients and encourage greater adoption of health insurance.
“These measures would significantly improve healthcare access and affordability for millions,” the association said.
