The 44th GST Council met under the Chairmanship of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman through video conferencing on June 12, 2021. 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 details of recommendations are given below:

A. Medicines:

  • Tocilizumab (from 5% to Nil)
  • Amphotericin B (from 5% to Nil)
  • Anti-Coagulants like Heparin (from 12% to 5%)
  • Remdesivir (from 12% to 5%)
  • Any other drug recommended by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Dept. of Pharma (DoP) for Covid treatment (from applicable rate to 5%)

B. Oxygen, Oxygen generation equipment and related medical devices:

  • Medical Grade Oxygen (from 12% to 5%)
  • Oxygen Concentrator/ Generator, including personal imports thereof (from 12% to 5%)
  • Ventilators (from 12% to 5%)
  • Ventilator masks / canula / helmet (from 12% to 5%)
  • BiPAP Machine (from 12% to 5%)
  • High flow nasal canula (HFNC) device (from 12% to 5%)

C. Testing Kits and Machines:

  • Covid Testing Kits (from 12% to 5%)
  • Specified Inflammatory Diagnostic Kits, namely D-Dimer, IL-6, Ferritin and LDH (from 12% to 5%)

D. Other Covid-19 related relief material:

  • Pulse Oximeters, incl personal imports thereof (from 12% to 5%)
  • Hand Sanitizer (from 18% to 5%)
  • Temperature check equipment (from 18% to 5%)
  • Gas/Electric/other furnaces for crematorium, including their installation, etc. (from 18% to 5%)
  • Ambulances (from 28% to 5%)


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