Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 44th GST Council meeting on 12th June 2021 through video conferencing. The council met to discuss the reduction in rates of covid-19 essentials and black fungus drug based on recommendations of Group of Ministers (GoM).
The Council has decided to accept the recommendations of the GoM to reduce the GST rates on the specified items being used in Covid-19 relief and management till 30th September 2021.
The rate reductions/exemptions are as follows :-
| Sl. No. | Description | Present GST Rate | GST Rate Recommended By GST Council |
|
A. Medicines |
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| 1 | Tocilizumab | 5% | Nil |
| 2 | Amphotericin B | 5% | Nil |
| 3 | Anti-Coagulants like Heparin | 12% | 5% |
| 4 | Remdesivir | 12% | 5% |
| 5 | Any other drug recommended by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Dept. of Pharma (DoP) for Covid treatment |
Applicable Rate |
5% |
|
B. Oxygen, Oxygen Generation Equipment And Related Medical Devices |
|||
| 1 | Medical Grade Oxygen | 12% | 5% |
| 2 | Oxygen Concentrator/ Generator, including personal imports thereof |
12% | 5% |
| 3 | Ventilators | 12% | 5% |
| 4 | Ventilator masks / canula / helmet | 12% | 5% |
| 5 | BiPAP Machine | 12% | 5% |
| 6 | High flow nasal canula (HFNC) device | 12% | 5% |
|
C. Testing Kits And Machines |
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| 1 | Covid Testing Kits | 12% | 5% |
| 2 | Specified Inflammatory Diagnostic Kits, namely D-Dimer, IL-6, Ferritin and LDH |
12% | 5% |
|
D. Other Covid-19 Related Relief Material |
|||
| 1 | Pulse Oximeters, including personal imports thereof | 12% | 5% |
| 2 | Hand Sanitizer | 18% | 5% |
| 3 | Temperature check equipment | 18% | 5% |
| 4 | Gas/Electric/other furnaces for crematorium, including their installation, etc. | 18% | 5% |
| 5 | Ambulances | 28% | 12% |