PIL in SC seeks waiver of GST on Covid drugs, kits
NGO the Public Policy Advocates on Wednesday moved the Supreme court seeking to exempt levying of Goods and services Tax on the medicines and medical devices including equipment being used for the treatment of Covid patients in the second wave of pandemic.
Seeking exemption of GST on Remdesivir, Tocilizumab, Favipiravi and other similar generic medicines, the petition by the Public Policy Advocates has described as “unjustified” the levy of GST on the medicines essential for the treatment of Covid including medical grade oxygen, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, Bipap Machines, and other Covid patient care support equipment.
The application says “The Right to Health in
times of pandemic, assumes an ever more crucial significance since affordable healthcare and availability of drugs which are critical to fight moderate and severe cases of illness have to be given paramount importance. This would have the effect of preventing black marketing, hoarding of such drugs and other medical equipment, as well as would ensure that the same is available to the
citizens cost.”
The application has been moved by Pritika Kumar — the founder of the Public Policy advocates. The application has been moved in the suo motu matter being heard by the top court relating to the supply of essential medicines, oxygen, manner and method of vaccination, dual pricing of the vaccine and declaration of lockdown.
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