Health ministry creates a cell to answer GST-related queries

Union health ministry’s GST information cell is meant to answer queries on GST’s impact on healthcare sector.

To answer queries of people on the impact of the goods and services tax (GST) on healthcare, Union health ministry has created a GST information cell.

The Goods and Services Tax was implemented in India from July 1, 2017. (Reuters)

The details of the cell are mentioned on the health ministry’s website—mohf.nic.in, which has an elaborate section on frequently asked questions on GST and its impact on the health sector.

“We realized people had a lot of queries on how the new tax will impact health services, hence, we decided of forming the cell to satisfy people’s questions,” said a senior health ministry official.

The queries range from what is meant by healthcare services under GST, in what manner is the GST going to impact the health and family welfare sector, how will GST impact life-saving drugs and equipment, what are the services that are likely to face increased taxation to whether the medical tourism was likely to get affected.

The new tax regime was rolled out on July 1, 2017.

Healthcare sector has been exempted from GST, and life-saving drugs, healthcare services and medical devices will continue to be free of tax.

Services that are likely to face increased taxes include dialysis (5% to 12%), pacemaker (5.5% to 12-18%), support devices in orthopedics (5% to 12%) and all support devices for cancers except blood cancer (5% to 7-12%).

Medical tourism, however, is likely to grow further with incentives having been offered to the industry under the new tax format.

“The cost of insurance, pharmaceuticals, and international travel together with quality health care is expected to reduce which would culminate into better prospects of medical tourism in the country,” reads the ministry statement.

Even after going through the frequently asked questions (FAQs) if there is any further clarification required, people can drop a mail at gst.health-mohfw@gov.in.