GoM presents recommendations on GST concession to COVID items
The Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted to examine the issue of GST concessions to COVID relief materials, presented the recommendations to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other members for their views and suggestions at the 44th GST Council Meeting on Saturday.
The recommendations were presented by GoM convener and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
The GST rate recommended by the GST Council for Remdesivir, Anti-coagulants like Heparin, any other drug recommended by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and department of Pharma (DoP) for COVID treatment is placed at 5 per cent. The present GST rate for Remdesivir and Heparin is 12 per cent.
Other medicines such as Tocilizumab, Amphotericin B remain unchanged with 5 per cent GST rate.
Items reduced to 5 per cent GST rate from the present 12 per cent are – medical grade oxygen, oxygen concentrator/generator including personal imports thereof, ventilators, masks, ventilator masks/canula/helmet, BiPAP machine, High flow nasal cannula device, COVID testing kits, Specified Inflammatory Diagnostic kits namely D-Dimer, IL-6, Ferritin and LDH, pulse oximeters including personal imports thereof.
The Council also reduced the rate placed on certain items from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. These include -- hand sanitiser, temperature check equipment, gas/electric/other furnaces for crematorium including their installation.
The Council recommended a GST rate of 12 per cent for ambulances which are currently placed at 28 per cent.
(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)
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