IMA welcomes GST cuts on cancer and essential medicines, seeks wider exemptions

The IMA said the reduction will ease the financial burden on families struggling with the costs of life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, and severe infections

GST cuts on medicines: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has hailed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s move to reduce taxes on several cancer-related and essential medicines, describing it as a much-needed step to make treatment more affordable for patients across India.

In a statement issued after the Council’s decision, the IMA expressed gratitude to both the government and the Council. It said the reduction will ease the financial burden on families struggling with the costs of life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, and severe infections. The association added that lowering GST on medical equipment would also help hospitals and clinics cut operational expenses, which would ultimately benefit patients.

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“The decision to reduce GST on critical drugs underlines the government’s commitment to strengthening public health infrastructure and supporting those who face serious medical challenges,” the IMA said.

However, the body stressed that the step should only be considered the beginning. It urged the government to remove GST entirely on lifesaving medicines, including cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, insulin and other antidiabetic drugs, cardiac medicines, antihypertensives, and treatments for chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD. The association also sought exemptions for medicines used to treat rare conditions such as haemophilia and myelodysplastic syndromes.

The IMA further flagged the procedural difficulties many of its state and local branches face when applying for GST and TAN registrations, pointing to nomenclature-related issues, and asked the Council to address these hurdles.

In addition, the association pushed for GST to be scrapped on hospital beds, describing them as a basic healthcare necessity rather than a luxury item. It also urged exemptions on health insurance premiums to encourage more people to take insurance cover and reduce financial stress during medical emergencies.

Reaffirming its appreciation of the Council’s decision, the IMA said it looked forward to more reforms that place patient welfare at the center of policy. “We thank the GST Council for its responsive and patient-centric approach,” it added.

(Source: ANI)