INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Hyderabad: The state government will pitch for abolition of GST on medications, vaccines and equipment utilized for Covid treatment at the
GST Council meeting on May 28
Harish Rao will participate in the meeting called by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman through video mode from Delhi
Chandrashekar Rao has asked the minister to raise this issue at the GST meet
States such as West Bengal and Punjab have actually already urged the Centre to eliminate GST on life-saving drugs and equipment being
utilized for Covid treatment, besides on hand sanitizers, face masks, gloves, PPE kits, temperature level check equipment, oximeters,
ventilators etc.State governments are procuring all these for free treatment for Covid clients at federal government medical facilities
along with for supplying medical packages to the clients under home isolation.The TS federal government is of the view that imposing GST
ranging from 5 per cent to 12 percent on these items strained the states as also those going through paid treatment in private healthcare
Financing minister Nirmala Sitharaman had on May 9 dismissed excusing Covid19 vaccines, medicines and oxygen concentrators from GST, saying
such an exemption will make the life-saving products costlier for consumers
Makers will not have the ability to balance out the taxes paid on inputs, and several states are preparing to press their need again at the
GST Council meet.Currently, domestic products and commercial imports of vaccines bring in a 5 percent GST, while Covid19 drugs and oxygen
concentrators attract a tax of 12 per cent.Congress working president Sonia Gandhi has likewise pleaded that all life-saving drugs,
equipment and instruments needed to deal with Covid19 clients need to be excused from GST
