Recommendations of the 44th GST Council Meeting



Quick Summary
The 44th GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has decided to lower GST rates on various items crucial for Covid-19 relief and management. These reduced rates will be effective until September 30, 2021. The changes include a significant reduction in GST for medicines like Tocilizumab and Amphotericin B, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, testing kits, and hand sanitisers.

Recommendations of 44th GST Council Meeting

Change in GST Rates on goods being used in Covid-19 relief and management

The 44th GST Council met under the Chairmanship of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman through video conferencing here today. The Council in its meeting has decided to reduce the GST rates on the specified items being used in Covid-19 relief and management till 30th September, 2021.

The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri Anurag Thakur besides Finance Ministers of States & UTs and senior officers of the Ministry of Finance & States/ UTs.

The details of recommendations are given below :

GST Council Slashes Rates on Covid-19 Relief Items

S. No.

Description

Present GST Rate

GST Rate recommended by GST Council

A. Medicines

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

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, incl 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%

These rate reductions/exemptions shall remain in force upto 30th September 2021.

FAQ :

The 44th GST Council Meeting was held recently, chaired by Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman via video conferencing.

The Council decided to reduce GST rates on specified items being used in Covid-19 relief and management.

The reduced GST rates and exemptions will remain in force until 30th September 2021.

GST rates were reduced to Nil for Tocilizumab and Amphotericin B, and from 12% to 5% for Anti-Coagulants like Heparin and Remdesivir. Other drugs recommended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for Covid treatment will be at 5%.

GST rates on Medical Grade Oxygen, Oxygen Concentrators/Generators, Ventilators, Ventilator masks/canula/helmet, BiPAP Machines, and High flow nasal canula (HFNC) devices were reduced from 12% to 5%.

Yes, GST on Covid Testing Kits and specified inflammatory diagnostic kits was reduced from 12% to 5%. Hand Sanitiser and Temperature check equipment saw a reduction from 18% to 5%. Ambulances had their GST reduced from 28% to 12%.




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