Prices of 50 life-saving drugs likely to drop, including medicines for diabetes, blood pressure
New Delhi: In what could offer significant financial relief to scores of patients, prices of around 50 essential medicines, including those used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and kidney disease, are likely to come down as the government considers reducing Goods and Services Tax (GST) on them, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has reportedly claimed.
According to IMA members quoted by The New Indian Express, the apex body of private practitioners has submitted a list of these life-saving medicines to the GST Council and held consultations with officials on reclassifying them under the exempted category.
The proposal reportedly covers drugs used in the treatment of cancer, kidney disease, high cholesterol, tuberculosis, joint pain, and other chronic conditions. Currently, many of these medicines attract a GST of 12% to 18%.
“We have been pressing for this reduction for a long time. If accepted, it will significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for patients,” TNIE quoted IMA national president Dr Dilip Bhanushali as saying.
The IMA has recommended zero tax on insulin, oral anti-diabetic drugs, antihypertensives, cardiac medicines, and treatments for chronic kidney disease, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, asthma, and COPD. The association has also sought exemptions for intravenous immunoglobulin and medicines used to treat blood-related conditions such as haemophilia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
The GST Council is expected to deliberate on the proposal in its upcoming meeting. If approved, the revised tax structure could slash rates from 12% to 5%, with some rare disease medicines potentially being fully exempted, added the report.
“The council seemed affirmative. We are hopeful that the government will consider our proposal as these drugs help treat a large number of non-communicable disorders rampant in the Indian population. Reduction in their cost would provide great relief in out-of-pocket expenditure for patients,” Dr Bhanushali added.
He also welcomed the government’s move to reduce GST on cancer drugs, noting that it would ease the burden on patients undergoing costly therapies such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
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Flagrant injustice to underprivileged: Mehbooba on govt action against Shopian school
Srinagar (PTI): PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said declaring Dar Ul Uloom Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian an unlawful entity under the UAPA was a "flagrant injustice" to the underprivileged sections of society.
She also alleged that banning such "altruistic institutions" without any solid evidence of anti-national activity "shows a deep seated prejudice and ill intention".
The institution allegedly run by individuals affiliated with a banned organisation has been declared an "unlawful entity" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In a post on X, Mehbooba said, "Every single day the j&k government acts as a mute bystander & a timid enabler of vicious assaults on J&Ks identity & dignity. Declaring Dar Ul Uloom Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom as an unlawful entity under UAPA is a flagrant injustice to the poor underprivileged sections of society".
The former chief minister said the institution served as a "beacon of quality education" for students unable to afford expensive schooling.
"It has produced reputed doctors and professionals who served this nation with dedication. Banning these altruistic institutions without any solid evidence of anti national activity shows a deep seated prejudice & ill intention," she added.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg issued a two-page order based on the dossier presented by Senior Superintendent of Police Shopian pointing towards the alleged illegal activities at Darul Uloom Jamia Sirajul Uloom at Imam Sahib in Shopian district in south Kashmir.
According to the order issued by Garg on April 24, there were "credible inputs and evidence on record, to indicate sustained and covert linkages of the institution with Jamaat-e-Islami, which the Government of India banned in 2019.
